The world is fraying—socially, ecologically, politically—and yet those with the greatest power to act continue to hide behind the thinnest veils of responsibility. The dominant leadership paradigm, exported globally but epitomised most clearly in American recent leadership culture, is not just insufficient—it is immoral.

We are no longer dealing with a crisis of performance, but a crisis of ethics. The American model of leadership—of charismatic individualism, shareholder primacy, instrumental performance, and hyper-agility—has become a blueprint for exploitation masquerading as innovation. It promotes ego over community, mistaking narcissism for strength. It valorises short-term gain over long-term good, disguising recklessness as risk-taking. It commodifies everything—people, relationships, even values themselves.

But power without virtue is violence, and leadership without wisdom is destruction.

The time has come for Europe to rise—not in arrogance, but in moral clarity.
Not to dominate, but to lead differently.

We need to move beyond critiques and toward creation. Europe must take up its mantle as a historical cradle of humanistic thought, ethical political economy, and moral responsibility. We must reclaim our philosophical and civic heritage—not to preserve the past, but to build a future grounded in the dignity of the person, the common good, and the pursuit of excellence.

Leadership must begin with moral identity—the deep, structurally embedded commitments that shape who we are and what kind of world we are building. It must cultivate organisational wisdom—not technical cleverness, to embody the good within conditions of complexity and contradiction. From there, leadership forms character, not in the individual alone, but in institutions—so they can become sites of flourishing, not domination.

This is not about nationalism. It is not about Europe against America or anyone else. It is about Europe for the world—for the future. We call upon European leaders—political, corporate, civic, academic—to join forces in building a European movement for good leadership. Not a brand, but a moral community. Not a policy programme, but a practice of systemic change.

We don’t need more agile transformations. We need moral transformation.
We don’t need more innovation theatre. We need institutional virtue.
We don’t need more thought leaders. We need character leaders.

A world shaped by moral leadership is not only possible—it is necessary. It is the only path to restore trust, repair systems, and regenerate the conditions for true human flourishing.

Europe has the philosophical depth, institutional sophistication, and civic traditions to lead this transition. The only question is: will we have the courage?

Let’s make “European leadership” synonymous not with bureaucracy or caution—but with courage, care, and commitment to the good.

The world is watching. Let us rise—together. 

ChangeNOW 2025, Paris