isshs » Programmatic Commitment

Update to the programmatic commitment:

The post-pandemic era in Europe has accelerated the processes of its reconceptualization of the notions of democracy, inclusion, socio-economic development and of its most foundational values and principles along the lines of the so-called “twin transition,” digital and green. Europe, not reducing it to the EU strictly, has put at the center of its effort of overall recovery a complete reinvention of the educational and research infrastructural and human potential as the main gear for economic and social sustainability and advancement. According to virtually all of the strategic documents of the EU marking the post-2020 era, the notions of democracy, social inclusion or economic wellbeing as well as the processes of EU integration of the accession countries, ought to be re-invented for the context of the “twin transition.” Education and science (or innovation) are not mere aspects of said strategies but their crux. ISSHS is committing itself to engage in an in-depth analysis of these processes as an organic whole as well as in active advocacy and reshaping its educational program.

ISSHS’ “triple A” moto (analysis, activism, academia) has been redefined along the lines of the processes described in this Update to the Commitment. Thus our triple A motto is appended by a triple D:
– Democracy in line the European Twin Transition;
– Digitalization of education, economy and governance;
– Development through innovation and societal transformation.

Read more about the founding programmatic commitment of the Institute

The Institute’s main type of activity consists in applied research in social sciences and humanities. We are committed to demonstrating that the dichotomy between theory and practice is a false one if the underpinning quality is scientific rigor and methodological consistency. We believe that political and social theory must be corroborated and justified by data as well as applicable. That is why political studies, social theory and theorizations in the humanities we undertake are always transformed into policy studies. Policy studies, on the other hand, most often serve as the point of departure for building new theories, its trajectory being: from the concrete toward the abstract. Practice and applicability justify theory, not the other way around.