Catalyst for ideas and action
The point of all this is to mix up categories and professions, make sure they get to know one another, and to appreciate the synergies between what they do for a living. Therefore, when deciding where to physically locate new think-tanks, fellowships, and the like, it makes sense to put them where such synergies can most easily take place. Do not do what the Australian government has done --to locate its publicly-supported research facilities in an out-of-the-way place like Canberra, while the swirling, active talent of the country lives in Sydney and Melbourne. Thus, again, while "think-tank" originally conveyed some safe, secure, isolated place away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, this is, from a sociological perspective, the opposite of what one should strive for today. Intellectual Environment The United States was founded and populated by a more than typical share of non-conformists. U.S. political culture and its intellectual environment have put a premium on individuality and self-reliance. The traditions of the countries in the region share some similarities, but the role of government as a strong force in social and economic life is somewhat different from the U.S. experience. Think-tanks, ideally speaking, should be independent and free-standing if they are to do their job well. Too much connection to government, or to political parties (as is the case in Germany), makes it impossible for institutions to establish their own research agendas. Direct government funding also means that organizations must live essentially from project to project, with a failure to secure new projects in a timely fashion spelling organizational disaster. The role of government in society goes back to three traits of the political culture, which are reflected in the intellectual environment. First, there is no public service philanthropic tradition. That tradition as a whole is weak, and where it does exist it tends to avoid public policy and all controversial issues to focus on "good works". Even the wealthiest foundation is pale compared to its U.S. counterpart in this respect, although its recent support for financial scandals may signal a new beginning. Second, the adversarial tradition vis-Ă -vis government is weak in countries in the region. While there is less focus on volunteerism and selfreliance compared to the United States, there is also more trust in government institutions. Third, the intellectual climate as a whole
ETHOS GUBERNAMENTAL
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