INTRODUCTION

Since 1987, the Instituto de Ciencia Política (ICP) has established itself as a center of democratic thought and as an association of free men and women united by a common affection for and intellectual identity with the principles, values and feelings that constitute democracy as a political, economic, social and cultural system, and united also by their desire to act constantly and efficiently towards overcoming the lack of stability and mistakes of our political sector in order to achieve economic, political, social and environmental development.

By the same token, the ICP, as an influential “think tank” in the nation, has been able, through its studies, recommendations and debates, to mediate decisively in the new directions and measures taken on different occasions by public authorities, as well as in the formation of new national political thought favorable to the market economy, economic openness, necessary privatizations and the modernization of the State. The institution is not nor does it aspire to be a new political party or movement, and it is independent of parties, religions and governments.