The board of the International Association of Hungarian Studies believes that no national academic discipline can be cultivated in isolation. The Universitas Europae Centralis, founded after the fall of the Socialist Regime, has offered excellent opportunities for Hungarian researchers to locally learn about the latest world trends in human sciences as well as theoretical and methodological results that are also important to ensure progress in Hungarian Studies. The CEU has made a difference by making it possible for the representatives of various Central and Eastern European disciplines that were working once in isolation to engage in dialogue and recognize each other’s work. Since its foundation, the CEU has continuously improved education; its research programmes have been exemplary, and its library has played a significant role in correcting Hungary’s systemic deficiencies in our scientific infrastructure.
For centuries, intellectuals sharing traditional European values have been fighting for a free dialogue between research centers and the free flow of ideas and reflections on the differing canons. These achievements should not be threatened by ideological, political, and ultimately selfish economic interests and power struggles.
The scientific society must stand up to any attempt that threatens scientific thinking and free research. As part of its nature, science has always had a function to be critical, and this is indispensable for the future of science and the freedom of education.
This is why we would like to express our solidarity with our colleagues threatened by an ill-prepared proposal lacking a broad social consensus and to raise our voices against the attack on an institute, which is essential in supporting the cause of Hungarian Studies in a broader sense of the word.
Andrea Seidler
President
István Monok
Co-President
Sándor Bene
General Secretary