The first half of the second decade of the 21st century sees a more unpredictable, more dangerous world marked by both exigencies of the moment and new challenges. xe following questions remain open: How will the world crisis change the balance of power? Who will come out of it strengthened and who weakened? What are the chances of modizcations of political systems? Does the individual stand a chance of defending himself against greed on the one hand and poverty on the other? Hardly ever before has the individual felt such drastic evects of a socio-economic and ethnic crisis. xere also arise questions about the essence and meaning of public service – so important in these days of shaky values for restoring a natural (ontic) climate of trust, concord and hope, especially in the face of ruthless competition, clashing interests and shunning responsibility for the common good. xe practice of neoliberalism has shown that the general good is alien to it, that what solely matters is individual gain and that society is merely a space to be penetrated and exploited by anonymous free-market forces. xis approach has caused a crisis of thinking in terms of joint responsibility for the community; it has led to a repeal of protective trade barriers that could counteract indiscriminate gain-driven privatization of everything. Since the late 90s democracy, taken for granted in all advanced societies, has become an illusion as it has relinquished its decisive voice to economic globalization, anonymous znancial markets and rating agencies. Elites have alienated themselves from society and ordinary people have become mere spectators of history; there has occurred a disturbance of balance between natural and civic laws, which society has evolved to uphold, and political laws, by which society is governed. xe management of poverty and combating increasing crime have become major concern