IDESE engages in assembling and empowering progressive and democratic forces in both academia and a broader social community, focusing on the entire Southeast European region.

We believe that no facet of society, including the economic, can flourish without a change in political culture that comes from below , i.e. from society at large. We are committed to bringing the academic and engaged community of Southeast Europe closer together, building networks of joint action based on solidarity and trust.

IDESE aims to produce specific strategies of grounding progressive political cultural change by carefully selecting and nurturing highly educated, progressive, critical, and engaged minds.