On October 29, 2024, the Italian Cultural Institute in New York hosted the event “The Filangieri-Franklin Correspondence: Visions of Unity for Europe and America,” presented by Amedeo Arena, Professor of European Union Law at the University of Naples Federico II and scientific director for the Filangieri Academy of Partenope.
The Deputy Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Silvia Mongardo opened the event, followed by Alessandra Oliva, Deputy Consul, emphasizing the role of Italian diplomatic institutions in historically and presently fostering cultural and academic ties between Italy and the United States, underscoring the intellectual friendship between Filangieri and Franklin.
Antonio Giordano, member of the National Italian American Foundation’s Council and director of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, highlighted the cultural significance of enlightened Italian figures for the Italian-American community. He also mentioned Professor Arena’s initiative that led to Domenico Cirillo becoming the first Italian member of the American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia.
The event continued with a talk by Elda Buonanno, a professor at St. John’s University, titled “Filangieri’s Naples: A Retrospective.” Her presentation offered a glimpse into the vibrant cultural life of 18th-century Naples and the city’s role as a reference point for European thinkers.
Professor Amedeo Arena then took the floor, delving into the intense correspondence between Gaetano Filangieri and Benjamin Franklin. He explained how their Enlightenment ideals contributed not only to the founding of the United States but also, in perspective, to the European integration that culminated in the European Union. Professor Arena concluded his presentation with an introduction to his forthcoming volume, A Citizen of All Places, Contemporary of All Ages: The Universality of Gaetano Filangieri’s Thought, a collection of essays by historians, philosophers, and legal scholars highlighting the contemporary relevance of Filangieri’s ideas in addressing 21st-century global challenges.
Following the lecture, a lively discussion unfolded, featuring notable figures from the Italian-American community, including Luigi Ballerini, Professor Emeritus of Italian Language and Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles; Giuliana Ridolfi Cardillo, Special Events Director at the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York and former press officer at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York; Nancy Indelicato, Public Relations Officer for the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York; Bernardo Paradiso, President of the Italian American Committee on Education; Robert Vanni, General Counsel at the New York Public Library; and Anthony Viscusi, member of the Dante Society of America and former counselor to the Fulbright Association. The Gaetano Filangieri Philosophical Society of America, represented by its president Lawrence Auriana, sent a message of support, reaffirming the value of promoting Filangieri’s thought in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“Inspired by the enthusiasm generated by this event at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, I hope this momentum will carry us forward to July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This document represents not only the founding of a new nation but also the culmination of a shared reflection within the so-called Republic of Letters, in which Italian intellectuals played a significant role. It is therefore time to establish an Italian committee for 2026 to mobilize the best minds on both sides of the Atlantic, ensuring that the contribution of Italian intellectuals to the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence receives adequate recognition on such a pivotal anniversary for the history of all humanity,” said Professor Amedeo Arena.
