Mission Statement

The symbolism is clear: a striking sculpture on the map. The Jutland Peninsula rises prominently above the rest of Europe, marking the northern boundary of the continent’s central and southern regions. Seas flank it to the east and west, with a sparsely populated Scandinavia stretching northward. This peninsula stands as a lighthouse, a beacon poised to illuminate a continent that has sunk into darkness and distress—a retreat to the gloom of the Dark Ages. Like a phoenix, Jutland holds the preconditions to rise anew, not yet exceptional but primed to lead through its unique position. Historically, trade and commerce lifted Europe from that early darkness toward light, beginning in the High Middle Ages. Northern Italy, the Benelux region, and the Hanseatic cities along the Baltic Sea were the trailblazers. Later, the Renaissance, symbolized and propelled by the Italian city-states, further banished the shadows with its illuminating brilliance.

The agenda is equally clear. Globally, government now accounts for at least 30% of economic output—a substantial share, and that’s just direct spending. Beyond this, governments regulate, influence, and subsidize much of the remaining 70%, often labeled the private sector. One could argue the economy is effectively 100% government-dependent or government-influenced—a reality some embrace, others decry.

Whether one champions big government, favors smaller government, or falls somewhere in between, most would likely agree that “liberal democracy,” rooted in Enlightenment ideals, isn’t working as envisioned. Some see dark, anti-democratic forces rising; others see democracy overreaching its scope or capacity. Still others point to a vast, unelected bureaucracy steadily eroding those ideals, driven by its own hidden agenda.

Is this historically unprecedented? Not really. From a functionalist point of view, institutional strains emerge when society’s foundation shifts out of alignment with the systems built upon it. Technology’s relentless evolution often drives this tension, forcing social constructs to adapt. Yet institutions are sticky—they resist change and linger stubbornly. Such strains can stretch across decades. While a perfect equilibrium may never exist, the intensity of the discord varies.

The late 18th century brought seismic shifts: the American and French Revolutions. The mid-19th century marked another turning point with the U.S. Civil War and a wave of European revolutions. These upheavals sparked change and sent ripple effects far beyond their origins. More examples could be drawn from earlier eras, later in the 20th century, or even now, as a 21st-century inflection point seems to unfold in real time.

The rise of information technology and a truly inter-connected world has challenged the systems we’ve known in the West since World War II. Technology has surged ahead, while institutions remain mired 80, 90, or 100 years in the past. Perhaps it’s time for a reset—a deliberate rethinking of how societies should be built and governed.

That, in essence, is the mission: analyze the past, grasp the present, account for technological progress, and forge new solutions. Government, governance, the state, politics, collaboration, and policy outcomes need an overhaul. Time to go to work.