Balancing between Values and Realpolitik
Date: 26 May 2023 (Friday) 9.00 am
Venue: University of Public Service, Main Building, Széchenyi Ceremonial Hall
(Budapest, Ludovika square 2, 1083)
Registration: HERE
On the occasion of the 100th birthday of former US Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, the Otto von Habsburg Foundation and the Institute for Strategic Studies of the University of Public Service are organizing a conference under the title “Balancing between values and realpolitik”.
The idea for the event arose from the extensive and rich correspondence between Otto von Habsburg and Henry Kissinger, discovered recently in our archives, which addresses in detail the geopolitical situation in Europe at the time and its relations with the United States, the Soviet Union and China.
The aim of the conference is to reflect on the historical events of the 1970s that shaped the careers of both politicians and to examine how Europe’s relations with the three (super)powers have evolved since then and what can be considered of these ties today, especially in the light of the war in Ukraine and the concerns of the US and Europe about China.
Programme
9.00–9.15 Registration
9.15–9.30 Opening addresses
Gergely Prőhle, Director of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation and the Institute for Strategic Studies of the University of Public Service
9.30–10.00 Introductory presentations
Jérémie Gallon, Director at McLarty Associates, former diplomat
Henry Kissinger, the European
Bence Kocsev, Research Fellow at the Otto von Habsburg Foundation
What the Letters Testify. The Relationship between Otto von Habsburg and Henry Kissinger, Based on their Correspondence
10.00–10.15 Questions
10.15–10.45 Coffee break
10.45–11.45 Panel I: China
János Csák, Minister for Culture and Innovation of Hungary
The modus operandi with China. The Mindset and Visions of a Great Power
Gergely Salát, Associate Professor, Head of Department, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Department of Chinese Studies
China (a not yet) Superpower
Tamás Magyarics, Professor of US History and Foreign Policy, Former Ambassador to Dublin
Henry Kissinger, China, and the Realist Foreign Policy
Moderated by Réka Szemerkényi, former Ambassador to Washington, D.C. and fellow of the International Republican Institute (IRI)
11.45–12.00 Questions
12.00–13.00 Lunch
13.00–14.00 Panel II: Transatlantic Relations
Ulrich Schlie, Professor at the Department of Security Policy and Strategic Research, University of Bonn
Henry Kissinger’s Conception of History and Politics
Géza Jeszenszky, Former Foreign Minister of Hungary, Former Ambassador to Washington
Cold War, Détente and the Evolution of the Transatlantic Partnership
Moderated by Balázs Mártonffy, Head of the Institute for American Studies, University of Public Service
14.00–14.15 Questions
14.15–14.30 Coffee break
14.30–15.30 Panel III: Russia
Emil Brix, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, former Ambassador to Moscow
The Geopolitical Zeitenwende. Russia’s War against the West
Janne Haaland Matlary, Professor of International Politics, University of Oslo, Former Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Ukraine and Beyond: Russia’s Strategic Security Challenge to Europe
Anthony B. Kim, Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
Geoeconomics and Geopolitics of the War in the Ukraine
Moderated by Tamás Péter Baranyi, Deputy Director for Strategy at the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade
15.30–15.45 Questions
15.45–16.00 Closing remarks
The conference will be held in Hungarian, German and English, simultaneous interpretation will be provided.
