New Ideas for Slovakia
- 01/06/2010
The main aim of the project "New ideas for Slovakia" is to contribute to creation, elaboration, and diffusion of innovative policies and ideas, which may constitute the fundamental agenda for modernization of Slovakia in the following years.
The project's main idea stems from our belief that a lack of alternative popular political agenda is one of the most significant factors that causes success of populist politicians in Slovakia. Therefore, our goals are as follows:
1. to contribute to creation and diffusion of ideas and policies that may revitalize the public discourse on the one hand, and counterweight the dominance of populist politics and politicians in the public debate on the other hand.
2. to launch and support a new generation of policy makers and leaders from all parts of the ideological and political spectrum.
3. to spread new ideas and policies, which may contribute to counterbalance the populist approaches, involve the relevant public (primarily potential youth activists) in the creation and realization of these ideas, as well as aim to change the nature of public engagement in Slovakia.
"New ideas for Slovakia" is a long-term project that assumes several types of activities. As a part of the project, Saloon of New Ideas has been established and consists of the actors from different parts of the ideological and political spectrum who will regularly discuss key problems and will not only aim to address crucial questions, which the country is facing at present, but formulate new ideas for the future as well. The first Saloon of New Ideas will take place in mid-June 2009 and the next will follow in approximately one-month intervals. The outcomes of these discussions will be information published on the website of the project (with a possibility for everyone to come up with own suggestions, comments, and ideas), newspaper articles, analyses, and policy papers. Based on the content of these discussions, the main topics of the several public conferences taking place in different parts of the country will be arranged. Foreign experts will also take part in these conferences, and opinion of anyone willing to contribute to formulation of new ideas for Slovakia will be welcome as well.
