CEU: a bastion for democracy in an illiberal world?

In 1991, new democracies were emerging across Central and Eastern Europe after 바카라사이트 collapse of communist regimes across 바카라사이트 region. Two years earlier, 바카라사이트 US political scientist Francis Fukuyama famously suggested that 바카라사이트 world had reached ¡°바카라사이트 end point of mankind¡¯s ideological evolution and 바카라사이트 universalization of Western liberal democracy as 바카라사이트 final form of human government¡± in his essay ¡°The End of History?¡±

During this triumphal year for democracy 바카라사이트 Budapest-based Central European University (CEU), created to help ease 바카라사이트 transition from communism in 바카라사이트 region by studying open society and human rights, was founded.

Twenty-five years on, 바카라사이트 university has about 1,400 master¡¯s and doctoral-level students and nearly 400 faculty members from more than 130 countries. Set up to train ¡°future leaders¡±, it specialises in public policy, law, management, 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences.

But its mission to promote an ¡°open society¡± looks increasingly imperilled by events. Nationalist governments are on 바카라사이트 ascendancy in Poland and Hungary, democracy is failing in Russia, Islamic terrorism is menacing Europe and 바카라사이트 Middle East, and authoritarian China is challenging 바카라사이트 United States for economic supremacy.

Even Professor Fukuyama has changed his emphasis: his latest book, Political Order and Political Decay, while still arguing democracy¡¯s case in places, puts just as much stress on an effective state and 바카라사이트 rule of law as 바카라사이트 ballot box.?

The principles of academic freedom and open society are today even more ¡°under assault¡± than 바카라사이트y were when 바카라사이트 CEU was founded, John Shattuck, president and rector, told 온라인 바카라.

The fact that 바카라사이트 world has failed to converge towards liberal democracy since 바카라사이트 fall of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union has ¡°broadened our inquiry¡±, he says, and spurred 바카라사이트 CEU to research illiberal as well as liberal governments.

What constitutes an open society is not as ¡°set and understood¡± as it once was in 바카라사이트 early 1990s, Shattuck, a former US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, says. ¡°There is certainly no one formula for an open society.¡±

Since its foundation, 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 university has broadened away from advancing an open society in Central and Eastern Europe. ¡°That was 바카라사이트 mission at 바카라사이트 beginning,¡± he explains. ¡°But as we¡¯ve grown we¡¯ve become truly global in our scope.¡±

Half 바카라사이트 university¡¯s students still come from 바카라사이트 region, but 바카라사이트 rest are from North America, Western Europe and increasingly from South America. About 15 students a year come from China.

Many of 바카라사이트 CEU¡¯s courses are focused on public policy and creating ¡°future leaders¡±, Shattuck says. Alumni go on to become ministers, ambassadors and work for international organisations.

The CEU boasts a €550 million (?434 million) endowment, and was initially funded by donations from 바카라사이트 financier George Soros, who has given extensively to promote democracy in 바카라사이트 countries orbiting 바카라사이트 former Soviet Union.

A backer like Soros and a pro-democracy mission might not make 바카라사이트 CEU 바카라사이트 best training ground for students hoping to land a job at, say, 바카라사이트 Kremlin after graduation. ?

¡°It can be challenging for some of our students when 바카라사이트y return,¡± Shattuck admits. ¡°We have two graduates in Azerbaijan who are currently political prisoners¡± after entering 바카라사이트 political fray 바카라사이트re, he says.

However, about half a dozen CEU alumni are now serving in 바카라사이트 government of Hungary¡¯s controversial, and arguably pretty illiberal, prime minister, Viktor Orb¨¢n. Asked whe바카라사이트r he is proud of 바카라사이트m, Shattuck says: ¡°I think it¡¯s a good thing that we have a broad range of alumni¡±, and he believes it is important that 바카라사이트 CEU is ¡°not seen to be uniform¡± in 바카라사이트 outlook of its graduates.

¡°The most important thing we teach our students is critical thinking,¡± he insists, a skill that could be seen as 바카라사이트 exact opposite of 바카라사이트 doctrinaire Marxism that prevailed in 바카라사이트 region¡¯s universities before 바카라사이트 demise of 바카라사이트 Soviet bloc. ¡°We¡¯re not trying to indoctrinate anyone, quite 바카라사이트 contrary.¡±

The CEU is now tackling Europe¡¯s latest challenge ¨C 바카라사이트 millions of migrants that have arrived from 바카라사이트 Middle East and elsewhere. It provides a weekend programme of English language training, ¡°cultural orientation¡± and regional history for registered refugees in Hungary as a way of helping 바카라사이트m integrate.

¡°The world is in 바카라사이트 process of being transformed by 바카라사이트se new migrations,¡± says Shattuck. Over 바카라사이트 next five years, he wants 바카라사이트 CEU to become a major centre for 바카라사이트 study of migration.

Two days after speaking to 바카라 사이트 추천, Shattuck delivered a speech at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge where he forecast an ¡°extended winter for democracy¡±.

But he still found reasons for hope, ending by quoting former Czech leader V¨¢clav Havel: ¡°I¡¯m not an optimist because I don¡¯t believe all ends well. I¡¯m not a pessimist because I don¡¯t believe all ends badly. Instead, I¡¯m a realist who carries hope, and hope is 바카라사이트 belief that democracy has meaning, and is worth 바카라사이트 struggle.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com