Conversations Shaping the Course of the 21st Century and the Future of a Free Society

Addressing complex social, economic, and collective action problems facing modern societies requires leading-edge thinking and fresh application of the principles that drive human progress. The Institute for Humane Studies is building an academic network of high-impact scholars through in-person and online research communities that span generational, disciplinary, ideological, and professional divides to develop and advance the ideas that support thriving, free societies and widespread human flourishing. IHS will concentrate its activities and investments from 2022 to 2026 across four initiatives encompassing our twelve focus areas.

Liberalism, Pluralism, Democracy

Constitutionally constrained liberal democracies foster peace, freedom, and widespread prosperity. However, the rise of contemporary illiberal ideologies threatens democratic institutions, individual freedoms, and the prospects for peaceful pluralism. The Liberalism, Pluralism, and Democracy initiative aims to spark innovative ideas and solutions that uphold and fortify the norms and institutions that underlie the liberal project and promote widespread human flourishing.

Speech and Intellectual Freedom

Freedoms of speech, expression, and intellectual inquiry drive innovation, the growth of knowledge, and social progress. The Speech and Intellectual Freedom initiative supports research examining new and increasingly complex challenges to these freedoms, including those presented by illiberal political movements, technological change, and contemporary threats to academic freedom.

Equality, Peace, and Prosperity

Individual liberty, equality before the law, free enterprise, and voluntary cooperation, are essential to prosperous, peaceful, and flourishing societies that enable every person to pursue their full potential. The Equality, Peace, and Prosperity initiative supports research investigating the barriers that inhibit people from realizing their full potential, the underlying causes of violent conflict, and solutions to overcoming these challenges that advance human freedom.

Business and the Good Society

In addition to driving material well-being, entrepreneurs and businesses can foster trust, cooperation, personal growth, and moral development among business owners, employees, suppliers, and customers. The Business and the Good Society initiative supports research exploring the factors that promote commerce’s role in contributing to widespread human flourishing (within and beyond the economic realm), and factors that inhibit these effects.

Technology and Freedom

Emerging technologies can enhance human flourishing if grounded in classical liberal principles of openness, human dignity, and personal freedom. The Technology and Freedom initiative aims to create an interdisciplinary network of scholars and other experts who are advancing our understanding of how technological innovation can enhance human freedom and flourishing and developing classical liberal solutions to the challenges created by such disruption.