“Even if one is interested only in one's own society, which is one's prerogative, one can understand that society much better by comparing it with others.”
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But we don't have an example of a democratic society existing in a socialist economy - which is the only real alternative to capitalism in the modern world.
Let me say again that the relationship is asymmetrical: there's no democracy without a market economy, but you can have a market economy without democracy.
Our institute's agenda is relatively simple. We study the relationship between social-economic change and culture. By culture we mean beliefs, values and lifestyles. We cover a broad range of issues, and we work very internationally.
Do you know what we are those of us who count as pillars of society? We are society's tools, neither more nor less.