Cornerstones
Explore the ideas, institutions, systems and historical events that shaped our world. Investigate how economics, power, law, culture and political thought influence human flourishing, and ask what we can learn to build a better future.
10 articles
Burkina Faso Case Study: Can Democracy Be Captured by Money and Power? | Ibrahim Traoré
Burkina Faso raises a much bigger question about the world: who controls wealth, who makes the rules, and how can we build societies in which power serves human flourishing?
Is Voting Pointless? Is the System Rigged?
You do not have to believe the system is perfect to participate in changing it. Voting is one option—but what else are we prepared to do about the things that matter?
International Progress, International Order, and the Liberal International Order
Is a richer, more connected world necessarily a more humane one? A closer look at international order, individual freedom and the responsibilities we share.
Dr Hadiyah-Nicole Green: Cancer Research, Purpose and Perseverance
Dr Hadiyah-Nicole Green's journey connects personal loss with scientific ambition. Explore her experimental research, 2026 developments, and what her mission teaches us about purpose and perseverance.
How to Disagree Without Creating Division
Disagreement does not have to end in hostility. By questioning ideas rather than attacking people, listening with curiosity and remaining open to learning, we can turn conflict into an opportunity for progress.
The Freedom We Inherited: How Generations Before Us Challenged Power
Freedom was never granted freely. Explore the history of liberty — from the Cyrus Cylinder and Magna Carta to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the US Bill of Rights — and the documents that taught power it could be limited.
Who Creates the Money We Live By? | Banking, Credit and the Economy
Most people think banks lend out money deposited by savers. But commercial banks also create new deposit money when they lend. Understanding this process raises a bigger question: where does that credit go, and what does it enable society to become?
The Power of Asking Better Questions: Challenge Assumptions and Think Differently
You do not need to be an expert in everything to contribute something valuable. Learn how asking better questions can challenge assumptions, connect ideas and open the door to better solutions.
If Power Rules the World, Can Humanity Ever Flourish? Wisdom vs Power
Who should hold power — the strongest, the richest, the smartest, or the wisest? Explore Machiavelli, Plato, Kant and Socrates on political power, leadership, institutions, the Dunning-Kruger effect and whether humanity can flourish when power rewards ambition rather than wisdom.
Quantum Politics: Rethinking Power & Reality
How a new worldview could transform society from the inside out. Quantum politics sees us as interconnected participants in a shared reality, replacing domination with participation and moving from control to cooperation.