Collège Champittet is honoured to welcome political essayist and novelist Giuliano da Empoli on 27 October 2026 as part of its “Cycle des grandes conférences” series. A bestselling author and leading commentator on democracy, populism and power in the digital age, da Empoli’s well-known works include Le mage du Kremlin (The Wizard of the Kremlin), L'Heure des prédateurs (The Hour of the Predator) and Les Ingénieurs du chaos (The Engineers of Chaos). In his writing, he masterfully explores subjects such as the global populist movement and the strategies employed by autocrats and tech billionaires to undermine democracy. As a former senior advisor to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the founder of the think tank Volta, Giuliano da Empoli brings unique insight into the dynamics of power, influence and politics. During the conference “Democracies Confronted with the New Tech Predators”, hosted in collaboration with the festival Livre sur les Quais, he will explore the challenges that technology and artificial intelligence pose to democratic societies. In today’s digital era, a handful of private players are accumulating unprecedented levels of power. Who really holds the power today – states or the tech giants? If you have ever wondered about this question and what it means for the future, this conference promises to be an unmissable opportunity for reflection and debate.
At Collège Champittet, the “Cycle des grandes conférences” series forms part of the school’s commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and public debate. By bringing expert speakers to the community, the series invites everyone to broaden their perspectives, engage in critical reflection and explore some of the key issues of the time. Moderated by Pascal Schouwey, the conference with Giuliano da Empoli will be followed by a public Q&A session. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover his latest novel, Le Fondateur (The Founder), and meet the author during a book-signing session at the end of the evening. This event is designed to encourage dialogue between the school community and leading thinkers, reinforcing the value of open discussion and informed citizenship. Those interested in attending are encouraged to book their ticket for the conference with Giuliano da Empoli via the following link: https://monbillet.ch/events/cycle-conference-champittet-26-giuliano-da-empoli. The evening promises to be both enlightening and engaging, offering a rare chance to hear from one of the most insightful commentators on contemporary global politics.
