America and Freedom 250
international conference and book launch
jointly organized by the U.S. Embassy in Hungary, the Hungary Foundation, the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission, the Tamás Molnár Research Institute and the John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics, Ludovika University of Public Service.
Venue: Ludovika University of Public Service, Ludovika Campus
Date: 2-3 June, 2026
Registration:
Day 1
15:00-19:00
Széchenyi Hall (Ludovika University of Public Service)
15:00–15:10 | Opening Remarks
Speakers to be confirmed
15:10–15:55 | Keynote Lecture
Dr. Jonathan Singerton (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (TBC): The Habsburg Monarchy and American Independence
15:55–17:25 | Panel Discussion - American Independence and Democracy in the Hungarian Context
Moderator: Milán Pap (Ludovika University of Public Service)
- 15:55–16:15 Csaba Lévai (University of Debrecen): Interpretations of the American Revolutionary Era in Hungary during the Reform Period and After the Revolutions
- 16:15–16:35 Tibor Glant (John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics; University of Debrecen): Perceptions of American Democracy in Hungary Between the Two World Wars
- 16:35–16:55 Speaker to be confirmed
- 16:55–17:25 Panel Discussion and Q&A (with keynote speaker and panelists)
17:25–17:45 | Closing Lecture
Károly Jókay (Fulbright Commission): The Hungarian-American Experience and the Legacy of American Independence
Day 2
08:30-09:00 | Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:00–09:30 | Opening Remarks
- 09:00–09:10 Gergely Deli, Rector, Ludovika University of Public Service
- 09:10–09:20 Representative of Government of Hungary (TBD)
- 09:20–09:30 Caroline Savage, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of the United States of America in Budapest (TBC)
09:30–10:00 | Keynote Lecture
Amb. Philip T. Reeker (ret.), Distinguished Fellow for Europe (Wilson Center): America and Europe: A Changing Relationship Over 250 Years
10:00–11:20 | Panel Discussion - American Foreign Policy
Moderator: Balázs Mártonffy (John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics)
- 10:00–10:15 Tamás Magyarics (Eötvös Loránd University): The Unilateralist Tradition and Practice in U.S. Foreign Policy
- 10:15–10:30 Gergely Prőhle (John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics, Ludovika University of Public Service): America and Europe
- 10:30–10:45 Gábor Csizmazia (John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics, Ludovika University of Public Service): The state of American internationalism
- 10:45–11:20 Panel Discussion and Q&A (with keynote speaker and panelists)
11:20–11:40 | Coffee Break
11:40–12:10 | Keynote Lecture
George Bogden, Senior Fellow (Yorktown Institute, Steamboat Institute) and Senior Counsel (Continental Strategy): Powers under the Constitution: The Case of American Economic Statecraft
12:10–13:30 | Panel Discussion - American Constitutionalism
Moderator: Ágnes Beretzky (Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary)
- 12:10–12:25 István Stumpf (University of Győr): The Power and Political Role of the United States Supreme Court
- 12:25–12:40 Zsolt Ződi (Institute of the Information Society, Eötvös József Research Centre, Ludovika University of Public Service): Platforms and first amendment. The US approach to free speech on social media
- 12:40–12:55 Lénárd Sándor (Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary): The Philadelphia Moment – American and European Perspectives
- 12:55–13:30 Panel Discussion and Q&A (with keynote speaker and panelists)
13:30–14:30 | Lunch Break
14:30–15:00 | Keynote Lecture
Walter Grünzweig (Andrássy University Budapest): “This Puzzle, the New World”: The Poet as Cultural Diplomat
15:00–16:20 | Panel Discussion - American Soft Power: Literature, Popular Culture, and Hollywood
Moderator: Tibor Glant (John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics; University of Debrecen)
- 15:00–15:15 Zsófia Anna Tóth (University of Szeged): A 100 Years of the Walt Disney Company
- 15:15–15:30 András Lénárt (University of Szeged): The Power of Film: Hollywood as Soft Power
- 15:30–15:45 Gabriella Vöő (University of Pécs): Challenges in Teaching American Literature
- 15:45–16:20 Panel Discussion and Q&A (with keynote speaker and panelists)
16:20–16:30 | Closing Remarks
Balázs Tárnok, Director of Research, John Lukacs Institute for Strategy & Politics, Ludovika University of Public Service