This week with American Space Panjakent`s participants we have discussed about basic ideas of the free market and free society and got some debate skills. There were some topics like:
Ideas, Freedom and Society. In the first topic “Ideas, freedom, society” participants have learnt about the role of ideas to generation of policy, economic and social systems; how ideas rules, exert on impact on our lives. What we should understand by the concept of free society and how in different periods and different countries thinkers understand and interpret this idea – from ancient China (Lao-tzu) to Western philosophers like Adam Smith, Kant, Wilhelm von Humboldt and etc.
Culture does matter: the role of culture in economic development. Participants have learnt about the role of culture and religion for economic development. There were brought common concepts and examples concerning culture based on work of such kind philosophers like Ibn Khaldun, Machiavelli, John Calvin, Max Weber and some modern thinkers like Tariq Ramadan and Abdoulkarim Soroush;
Law, Legislation and Liberty was about what law and rights are, in what cases these concepts means the same things but in what cases it’s different. There was concept of law as process of discovery but not a set of officials orders, bylaws; there was drawn a parallel between market and common law. There is illustration of differences between two core ideas: positive law and natural, intrinsic rights` concept.
Pluralism, Tolerance and Diversity was about issues concerning of diversity of opinions, ideas, approaches lifestyles and behavioral patterns. What difference between tolerance and indulgence? In what cases we should be loyal and tolerable but in what cases we should act and say no.
Power and Market was about market mechanisms, fundamental principles of market economics, market interference, price and wage regulation, taxes and the other types of state interference to the market.
Cycle of lectures entitled “Ideas for a Free Society” is a joint project of the Tajikistan Free Market Center and American Spaces Tajikistan.
The common project purpose is raising awareness and involvement of the young people to the public discussion concerning issues of free society, individual and state roles in the policy, social and economic activity, environment and gender issues.
The specific purpose of the project focused to teach participants of the American Spaces Tajikistan to debate on above-mentioned topics in English and prepare them to the debate tournaments.
Tajikistan Free Market Center was also pleased to work with ASP and its assistant Sabrina Hodieva.