Albert O. Hirschman is the author of seminal contributions to social science. Questioning the usefulness and applicability of universal theory-grounded approaches to development, he pushed for a pragmatic, solution-oriented framework for thinking ‘out of the box’ and for finding out what is possible under given circumstances. The denial of ‘one best way’ lies at the heart of his theory of development and ‘possibilism’ can be understood as his general underlying scientific method. Being an economist without including other disciplines such as sociology, history, philosophy, psychology, political science and literature was unimaginable for Hirschman. ‘Trespassing’ disciplines was therefore at the core of possibilism, an aspect that will be discussed by the panelists based on their direct experience of working with Albert O. Hirschman. 

What is the practical and contemporary relevance of the ‘possiblist’ methodology? Francesco Cicione, Luca Meldolesi and Nicoletta Stame will also explain how Hirschman’s ideas are put in practice today in Italy’s Mezzogiorno, and how they inspired bold and innovative projects launched by entrepreneurs, civil servants and non profit organisations.

• Francesco Cicione is an Italian entrepreneur who carefully combines thoughts and actions, and works in the field of innovation in Calabria.  He makes constant efforts to understand the extremely varied nature of contemporary society, in spite of the indisputable momentous inconsistencies and a growing need for authenticity and meaning. He is the founder and president of Entopan – Smart Networks & Strategies, the founder and executive vice president of Oltre Open Innovation Hub. He has promoted and coordinated the foundation and development of one of the most important platforms for innovation in southern Italy, which accompanies start-ups and innovative PMIs, spinoffs and big players in the set up and implementation of digital transformation processes, industry 4.0 and open innovation.
   

• Luca Meldolesi is an economist, historian of economic thought, professor of economic policy, expert in development economics, and the functioning of the state. He has developed his original scientific point of view, multidisciplinary (from economics to history, from political science to sociology), working in England with Piero Sraffa, in France with Fernand Braudel and in the United States with Albert O. Hirschman. In Italy, he taught at Sapienza in Rome, at the University of Calabria, at the Higher School of Public Administration and at Federico II in Naples. He co-founded the A. Colorni-Hirschman Institute in Rome. Among his numerous books: Discovering The Possible: The Surprising World of Albert O. Hirschman (1995), Albert Hirschman, entre Europa y América Latina. Reflexiones teórico-prácticas desde una perspectiva colorniano-hischmaniana (2017).

• Nicoletta Stame is co-founder of the A Colorni Hirschman Institute and professor of social policy at Sapienza University of Rome. She was a co-founder and first president of the Italian Evaluation Association. She was subsequently the president of the European Evaluation society.  She is a member of the editorial board of “Evaluation. The International Journal of  Evaluation Theory and Methodology”.  Her recent publications include Valutazione possibilista  (2016), Beautiful Pages by Judith Tendler (2018), The Evaluation Enterprise, a Critical View (2019). 

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