The inaugural conference of CEU's 24th academic year brought together scholars from the European Society for the History of Political Thought (ESHPT) from Sept. 17 to 19 for the “Trust and Happiness in the History of Political Thought” conference. As a young University that was founded when one regime fell and another was born, intellectual freedom, critical thought, dedication to the social sciences and humanities, and rigorous political analysis are cornerstones of CEU's foundation.
“We hope to create a role for the society by creating a platform for exchange and communication in the field across academic traditions, across generations, and across geographic regions,” said CEU History Professor Laszlo Kontler of the ESHPT that was founded in 2009. In light of political systems being scrutinized and challenged globally and faith in political leadership wobbly at best, Kontler, who is also the CEU pro-rector for Social Sciences and Humanities and pro-rector for Hungarian Affairs noted that, although the attending historians' research does not cover contemporary issues, background history is always vital. “Beyond the fact that we are historians and our interests are contextual and historical rather than marked by an ambition to contribute to current debates, I think [the current global situation] is another important consideration for our conference.”
Read more: http://www.ceu.hu/article/2014-09-25/historians-look-back-eye-future