To find solutions to the problems afflicting us, solutions that allow us to achieve freedom, justice, equity and development for all we have to talk about change and the future.
We embarked on such search long time ago and it has proven extraordinarily elusive in terms of results.
The challenges imposed on us by real-life are complex and intricate and is not easy to decipher them completely.
We need to understand how we can defend the values we believe in from the challenges awaiting for them in the future and, above all, how we can turn those challenges and problems into opportunities and solutions. It’s possible? Yes, is possible, if we promote the debate of ideas.
And we will have to do it! Because we are not going to solve the problems of the future with the tools, ideas and policies of the past.
Likely we feel safe talking about State and Market, but both have tested their limits and we can no longer say that one of them will prevail in the contest of ideas to build the ideal society.
There are no paradigmatic truths or unique formulas. Just a few common traits that are recognized in all the societies that progress.
If we have learned anything in the “wild” twentieth century it is about the danger of exaggerating the value of ideas.
Some of these ideas and ideologies – such as fascism, imperialism and communism – were taken to the point of causing millions of deaths and irreparable damage to entire generations; and others – as has happened with deregulated capitalism – have led to lament material losses that affect the welfare and prospects of equality and progress of entire countries.
History seems to indicate that the ideas that promote progress are those that pursue their objectives by adapting their methods, making their application more flexible to incorporate the teachings offered by their political practice.
