On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of György Schöpflin's birth, the Minority Policy Research Group and the Research Institute for Politics and Government of Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS) jointly organized the international conference titled European and National Vision. The event took place on 11th of November the university's Széchenyi Hall.
The guests were greeted by Judit Galambos, the coordinator of the Minority Policy Research Group of LUPS, then Rector Gergely Deli gave an opening speech. In his speech, the rector stated: the recently deceased historian, political scientist and former university professor György Schöpflin was both at home in England and (through his wife) in Estonia, but his homeland was Hungary. "In his last years, he was in close contact with our university through his academic work. His latest book, The European Polis, published by Ludovika University Press in 2021, is a critique of Europe's contemporary institutions, as well as a passionate defence of the idea of Central Europe".
Iván Gyurcsík, head of the Minority Policy Research Group, highlighted four goals in connection with the event. On the one hand, to commemorate and symbolically place a wreath at the grave of the scientist who died three years ago; draw attention to the generous book donation of his wife, Piret Peiker, which made it possible to create the György Schöpflin book collection in the Central Library of LUPS. The third goal was to emphasize the importance of György Schöpflin's intellectual heritage, books, writings, and critical thinking. Fourthly, the purpose of the event is to “navigate troubled waters" of the European Union, in connection with Central European cooperation, nations and national minorities.
Zsolt Németh, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Assembly, reminded in his opening presentation: this year is also the 90th anniversary of the birth of the philosopher Ernő Fábián and the 80th anniversary of the birth of the philosopher and thinker Roger Scruton. Zsolt Németh himself learned a lot from them, they largely determined the formation of his generation. Three knowledgeable, brilliant minds, three high-level intellects - characterized the aforementioned thinkers.
In the first session of the conference Ferenc Hörcher, head of Research Institute for Politics and Government of LUPS talked about the stages of Schöpflin's political thinking and the works related to them. "He was an amalgamation of the educated citizen of Central Europe, the open-minded British scientist and the natural gentleman," said Ferenc Hörcher.
Text: Lilla Kovács
Photo: Dénes Szilágy