Abstract: | This important international conference in the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts in co-organization with the European Center for Peace and Development is happening at the right moment when, on national, regionnal, European and international level a number of basic social patterns of the economic, political, legal, scientific, educational and cultural spheres are placed on the table and are reviewed. The discussion on them cannot avoid the knowledge about the seriousness of the challenges the modern society is facing. The main one are focused on the establishment of a new global order — economic, political, cultural, and on entering in the new information, postindustrial era, which is happening faster than the preparations for the transition to the new society based on knowledge, research and technological development. It is clear that in the new era one cannot enter and survive as an individual, people, state, with the social paradigms of the 19th century, and even less with those of the 20th century. Societies, and that means also peoples, especially little ones, who will not catch up with the necessary changes at the great historical crossroads, can easily become part of the historical oblivion. According to the elementary logic, on such information, we can conclude something that cannot be disputed — the most important project of our societies is the project of development of science and education in accordance with the postulates of the modern times. Its design and implementation, giving priority in material, moral and spiritual sense, is the most valuable investment in future and a guarantee for its vision based on the ideas of humane, ecocentric and sustainable development. |