Our monthly Liberty Forums consist of debates, panel discussions, and lectures on a wide array of topics centered on the institutions, understanding, and practice of responsible liberty in Hungary.

Past Liberty Forums

Swimming Against the Tide: Hungary’s Fight for Economic Sovereignty (December 8, 2011)
As the entire Euro zone struggles with a prolonged legitimacy crisis and an imminent break-up of the much treasured European economic solidarity is in shambles, Hungary continues to come up with “unorthodox” solutions to fix its own problems. Former head of the Hungarian National Bank, previous Minister of Finance, Zsigmond Járai shared his thoughts on money, markets and the borrowing game.

Roma Integration: Whose Responsibility? (October 19, 2011)
Social inclusion of the Roma is and will be one of the greatest challenges of Hungarian society in this decade, an issue that we cannot and should not ignore. Rita Izsák, recently elected CEO of the Tom Lantos Institute shared her views and personal experiences on the topic.

Film screening: The Birth of Freedom (September 28, 2011)
At our  film screening, we watched and discussed the Acton Institute’s documentary, The Birth of Freedom. Why is the right to pursue our liberty self-evident or unalienable? Why would anyone believe that all men are created equal?

Is discrimination immoral? (July 11, 2011)
The last event of the summer was a discussion with Roger Pilon, Founder and Director of Cato Institute’s Center for Constitutional Studies about why progressive and Western governments aim to champion “equal rights for everyone” by built-in guarantees against discrimination and how this phenomenon relates to the healthy functioning of a free society.

The Legacy of Ronald Reagan (June 28, 2011)
CSS held a private discussion with Ronald Reagan’s special advisor and Attorney General Ed Meese moderated by the president’s speechwriter, Peggy Noonan about the life and legacy of Reagan, and how he thought about this part of the world.

Principles vs. Interests? Understanding America’s Role in the World (April 20, 2011)
CSS President Marion Smith addressed the issue of “Principles vs Interests” in U.S. Foreign Policy at our Liberty Forum. The discussion featured the United States’ role in international relations from the era of the Founding Fathers, till the Arab Spring and the revolution  in Libya.

The Culture of Philantrophy (March 30, 2011)
Susan Hutchison, the Executive Director of the Charles Simonyi Fund spoke at the Liberty Forum event about philanthropy culture in the United States and Hungary. During the discussion she addressed the philanthropy led political culture and the differences between the US and CEE.

The Workshop of World Politics (February 28, 2011)
IR Professor Tilo Schabert spoke at our Liberty Forum event about international relations and european integration from a historical and philosophical perspective. During the discussion he addressed the elite-led construction of the European Union, the original French and German ideas of a European federal system and the constitutional lessons learned from the German unification, as well as potential impacts of Hungary’s EU presidency.

Is it only a Matter of Time Before the Euro Collapses? (February 23, 2011)
Dr Iain Begg (professor, London School of Economics) spoke at a joint event of the Common Sense Society, the LSE Alumni and the Hungarian Europe Society about the effects of the financial crisis on the European Union. His lecture addressed the most important question of the future regarding the financial and economic integration of the EU and the monetary policy problems lying ahead: Will the EU become a United States of Europe or a United Europe of States?

Political Transformation in Hungary – Past, Present, and Future (October 7, 2010)
Professor Roger Scruton spoke of his experiences meeting underground dissident groups in Hungary during the Communist era. He also offered his thoughts on Hungarian politics since 1989 and the work of the FIDESZ-KDNP government going forward. (Please check back soon for the  online transcript of this lecture.)

Why Beauty Matters (October 6, 2010)
Philosopher and celebrated author Roger Scruton joined CSS members for an intimate discussion about aesthetics, modern architecture, and urban planning.

Postmodern Democracy and Political Revival in CEE (September 15, 2010)
CSS members enjoyed a lecture by Fr. Guarnizo on the effects of postmodern thinking, the philosophical foundations of democracy, and how Central and Eastern Europe can play a crucial role in rebuilding our first principles.

The Corruption of Liberty with Tibor Machan (July 22, 2010)
CSS members discussed individualism, ethics, and the state of liberty today with special guest economist and philosopher Dr. Tibor Machan.

What’s Brewing in America? (June 7, 2010)
A conversation about democracy, populism, and the American Tea Party movement with CSS President Marion Smith.

The Politics of Bioethics (April 30, 2010)
What are the ethical considerations behind human cloning, eugenics, and stem cell research? Is human dignity lost on the way to progress in medicine? A discussion about the Value of Human Life in our Brave New World with guest speaker Prof. William L. Saunders, Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs at Americans United for Life.

Hope & Change: Year One (January 26, 2010)
Professor Tamás Magyarics explained in detail the administration’s take on its flagship project, the healthcare reform and evaluated the Obama administration’s first year in office.

The Power of Ideas in Post-Modern Politics (December 3, 2009)
Dr. Lee Edwards (Heritage Foundation) joined CSS members for an event exploring the role of philosophical ideas in shaping political discourse and policy making.

Is Media Really the Message? (November 12, 2009)
Guest panelists Antónia Mészáros (MTV), Péter Vass (HVG), and Gábor Megadja (Konzervatórium.hu) joined CSS members for a discussion on the role and influence of new media in Hungarian political discourse, on the blogosphere’s influence over journalism and the new gatekeepers of the political discourse.

Democratic deficit and the EU (June 18, 2009)
Recently following the June 2009 EU Parliamentary elections, debaters Tamás Boros (Hungarian Europe Society) and Marion Smith (Youth Atlantic Treaty Association) argued whether the EU represent responsible supranational governance or an undemocratic technocracy. The resolution, This House believes that the European Union is democratically legitimate, was adopted by those present.

The Concept of Freedom in Hungarian Politics (May 28, 2009)
During an interactive forum, panelists Zoltán Balázs & Ferenc Horkay Hörcher shed light on the conceptual and practical development of szabadság vs. szabadosság (liberty) throughout Hungarian political history.

Rhetoric & Debate Workshop (May 14, 2009)
Because no one is born an orator! CSS members enhanced their knowledge of the art of argumentation and debate with tips from Gergely Tamási, international debate coach and professor of rhetoric.

The Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations (April 30, 2009)
Guest debaters Tamás Meszerics, PhD (Central European University) and Gergely Romsics, PhD (Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs) debated the special relationship between Europe and the United States. The resolution, This House believes that the United States remains indispensable for Europe, was adopted by those present.