It is already the 28th time the International Summer University opened at the city of Kőszeg, as a joint undertaking of the Institute of Advanced Studies of Kőszeg (iASK), the University of Pannonia and the Hungarian Center of UNESCO. This year’s topic Brokers and Guardians of Peace – The Legacy and Future of Peacebuilding Beyond Nations and Empires became extremely actual due to the last days’ events and, also due to the major changes of the dynamics of international relations and the unfolding international crisis and its management that we are witnessing already for more than a year, but the roots of the conflicts go far beyond that. The concept and the idea of this years’ International Summer University originated in addressing these issues both by “players” on the ground, like diplomats, politicians, and military leaders and by analysts and historians of international relations and experts of the consequences focusing on a variety of fields.
In the opening remarks given by Prof. Ferenc Miszlivetz, director general of iASK and the initiator and mastermind behind the International Summer University, recalled the original idea of this very special course offered to students from all over the world, and how its dynamics worked, how its history and its shape has changed, reflecting to the changes and challenges of the world around us. He also gave a brief analysis of the current geopolitical situation, when a war is being fought again in Europe and what responses can be given to this extremely concerning situation that may lead to a new world order and invited the academics and students to be involved in the upcoming discussions.
The participants, both offline and online together with the scholars, historians, diplomats, and experts of a variety of fields were also greeted by the moderator Prof. Izabella Agárdi, head of department of iASK and by Prof. András Nagy, senior research fellow of iASK, giving a brief welcome address highlighting the importance of answers to be given to questions that are crucial for our present and may be fatal for our future.
The afternoon session was chaired by Ferenc Miszlivetz and focused on Russia, Europe, and the New Global Peace Order. It started by the keynote address given by Lüdger Kühnhardt director of the Center of European Integration Studies at the University of Bonn, focusing on the enormous changes we are witnessing and on their historical roots, on their political context, and on the possibilities of their outcome, creating a new world order or rather a new disorder that may live with us for several more years. The captivating talk was followed by the extremely thorough remarks and fascinating analysis of Sean Cleary, Chairman of Strategic Concept Ltd. Cape Town posing further questions about the new global situation that we must find answers soon.
The panel continued with the fascinating contributions of two “heavyweight” Hungarian diplomats, André Erdős, head of the Hungarian UN Mission in New York for many years, ambassador to France besides many other diplomatic posts, expert of the United Nations who highlighted the chances and obstacles of the crisis management capacity of the international organization recalling its foundation and referring to different crisis situations of the last decades, and the possibilities or impossibilities of finding adequate solutions. István Gyarmati, ambassador and expert in European Union matters besides many foreign political issues, provided an interesting overview of the nature of international organizations, and explained the chances and difficulties that the European Union, a supranational organization is dealing with. Lively exchange followed the panel discussion, with the participation of students offline and online.
The first day of the ISU was closed by a piano concert given by Károly Binder, professor of the Liszt Academy of Music, that included improvisations and variations on Béla Bartók’s themes, many of which were composed when being an iASK fellow. The venue of the highly successful concert was the newly reconstructed Synagogue, the restauration of the building and the cultural programs of the beautiful building were also initiated and are organized by iASK.
