Abstract:

Research for social and political purposes is a fundamental building block in the making and sustenance of a successful democracy. The return on research in the social and political domain far outweighs its cost. Research is indeed a fundamental plank of democracy, allowing the governed to speak to those in power in between elections, ensuring that those who rule are kept close to the realities of their peoples' needs and helping them inform their electorates and engage them in rational conversation. In today’s world of utilitarian politics, it is perhaps the most important tool that we have.