The contemporary political situation is one of constant flux and movement. A constant effort to reassess our point of view must be coupled with respect for essential contributions from thinkers of other epochs. Freedom is an ideal which can be pursued with every greater success, thanks only to the delicate work of analyzing and evaluating the roots of the concepts current in contemporary social discourse.

Lead by staff scholars of the Civic Institute in Prague, this conference was attended by 45 students from Belarus, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Two professors from the United States, Dr. Harry Veryser and Dr. Michael Foley joined the Civic Institute team for this four day conference.

Dr. Roman Joch, director of the Civic Institute, addressed the political consequences of the human condition and outlined various dominant political philosophies. Other speakers addressed principles of social teaching, the relevance of Augustine's analysis of Roman times to modern life, and various notions within political theory such as the rule of law, subsidiarity, and the origin of the state.