The line of research pursued by Albert Hirschman, culturally open to the various fields of the social sciences, is in illuminating contrast with the risks of retreat in a cultural ivory tower under the false colours of technicalities and specialist formalism introduced into economic science. The works of A. Hirschman represent a "voice" of decisive importance when faced with the challenges for economic research as it comes up against the crucial problems of humanity and for choices in economic policy in defence of the interests of the community as a whole, especially in this prolonged period of international economic crisis. In these pages certain crucial aspects of Albert Hirschman's research are addressed not only to commemorate the work of a master but also to open the way to some serious thinking about the directions he proposes to tackle the issues that economists and policy makers will be encountering in the next few years.