Masaryk’s Institute AV CR is oriented on basic research in humanities.  

Its major task is taking care of spiritual heritage of T. G. Masaryk - scholar, politician, and a founder and the first President of the Czechoslovak state, in the context of Czech democratic traditions, European and world history. The interdisciplinary approach is in accordance with Masaryk’s wish that the Institute devotes his activities to fields, to which his writings is connected [sociology, philosophy, political thought, history]. The Institute publishes Masaryk’s works, correspondence, collections of articles on Masaryk and related topics, Disputes about History, a modern biography on Masaryk, bibliography related to his work and activities, etc. It also organizes cooperation with foreign institutes and scholars, organizes and participates in international conferences. Significant work was published on comparison of Czechoslovak and Austrian political systems before 1934, and equally important works on Masaryk and Russian politics, his presidency, political culture of German activist political parties, women’s movement, the reflection of Germans, Austria and Germany in Czech society. Researchers of MSU also teach at universities, and participate in the popularization of humanities, in organizing exhibitions, and in MSU services for the public.