The current activities and workshops of the European SPES Forum are based on three Research & Action programs. The aim of such a R&A program is not academic. We do not intend to develop and test new theories. Our aim is action oriented. Hence, the method of these programs is based on the principles of Action Research where praxis and conceptual clarification are intertwined and balanced by a sense of ‘reflective equilibrium’ (Rawls).

This program is driven by the following questions: What kind of spiritual and economic arguments do we have to reintroduce frugality in economic life today? Should we consider frugality as a private or a public good? How can we connect frugality to more accepted ideas as sustainability in business, ethical consumption or distributive justice? How can we escape the pitfall of instrumentalization in promoting frugality as a virtue in business? What kind of practices can realize frugality today?

The ‘spiritual factor’ is a key factor in the process of the revitalisation of Europe. But the ‘spiritual factor’ or the ‘soul of Europe’ is also one of the most delicate, vague and controversial resources to organize. But without a sense of spiritual identity, Europe will not be able to overcome its identity crisis due to the process of enlargement. Relevant questions in this context are: Is there a ‘spiritual deficit’ in the integration process? What are its causes and symptoms? What is the spiritual mission of the European Union in the context of globalization? How may we revitalize the post-war concept of peace in the context of the clash of cultures and intercontinental competition? What kind of forgotten spiritual resources are available in the socio-cultural sphere? How to involve the younger generation in this process of spiritual revitalization of Europe?

Due to the aggravation of environmental problems and to the enlargement of the social divide on both national and global scales, the common good issue needs to be redefined in the context of globalization. The redefinition of the global common good is likely to become a central issue of the 21st century. It has to include an economic, a political and a spiritual agenda. We want to focus on new types of global goods needed to save the planet for future generations, on new political institutions for global justice and world peace, and on new forms of world spirituality and inter-religious dialogue. Our aim is to formulate a coherent framework that can cross-fertilize those economic, political and spiritual efforts for the common good.