1.1For the development of science: From 1999 to 2003, the research programme SJM upheld and advanced the tradition of intense involvement into the most important international social infrastructure projects: International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), World Values Survey (WVS), European Values Study (EVS), European Social Survey (ESS) etc. These research projects are based on a general idea that individual value orientations can not be explained only by means of other attitudinal variables, but the analysis has to be expanded by a set of socio-structural indicators and indicators of institutional environment into which an individual is enveloped. This approach gives us the possibility to analyze the impact of macro-structural differences in comparable societies, such as Europen societies on variations in value orientations and on behaviour of indiviaduals. So it is possible to relate micro and macro level of analysis. Direct consequences of the intense engagement of the SJM programme into international research network are also evident in the possibility of systematic comparison of Slovene data with data from numerous other societies. The inclusion of Slovene data in international data sets opens a possibility for researchers from other countries using them. This way the value of these data is much greater as would be without the international cooperation. This endeavour is confirmed through joint publications of the research group members and analysts from other countries (such as the book Modern Society and Values). Moreover, the analyses based on international comparable data give more reliable and complex information for the planners of public policy. It should in particular be mentioned that the majority of cross-national research projects in which CJM is involved is run and organized in accordance with the 'democratic model' of international research, which allows for presumes the cooperation of all researchers in all stages of research. The model thus enables transfer of knowledge and advancements in research methods in all participating countries, based on collective decisions.