Who we are
FREEDOM AND IDENTITY IN CENTRAL EUROPE empowers voices that champion professional dialogue on freedom, human rights, democracy, and identity. We identify strengthening the transatlantic relationship as a core component of our work, drawing together lawyers and activists from Central and Eastern Europe as well as North America. Together, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the diverse communities and traditions that make up Europe’s eastern flank, promoting unity and mutual understanding within the region.
Mission
We believe that democracy and identity go hand in hand. Without the protection of democracy, identity can be threatened by totalitarianism, while democracy can become shallow and meaningless without strong identities. Strengthening both freedom and identity is crucial for a more peaceful and democratic world.
As a region with a rich tapestry of cultures, Central Europe has a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Considering the diverse traditions, regional peculiarities, and strong local communities that make up this part of the world is part of getting a better understanding on Central Europe. By promoting professional discussion on these vital issues, we aim to contribute to making better policy decisions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Through events, publications, and increased dialogue, we aim to explore the interplay between human rights and identity in Central Europe, and discuss the importance of religious freedom and cultural, linguistic, and national identities in the region.
Experts
New releases
What are one million statements of support worth in the European Union?
The Origins of the Budapest Memorandum and the Future of Order in Europe | A Conversation with George F. Kennan Fellow George E. Bogden
The fight for minority rights in the EU continues at the Court of Justice
Defending Heritage and Faith: Navigating the Intersection of Christianity and Nationalism in Hungary
Protection of the Rights and Promotion of the Interests of National Minorities in a New Era
The Visegrad Group is alive and kicking
New Freedom Fighter Statue in Atlanta Honors Hungarian Resistance Against Communism
In the age of disappearing Snapchat messages, Insta stories, and 280-character tweets, it is reasonable to ask why building lasting monuments matters. It matters because in this sea of 21st-century distraction, we must be pulled out of our everyday lives from time to time and be faced with timeless truths and virtues to aspire to.
Monuments can represent these truths. One such statue, slated to be revealed in Atlanta’s Peace Park on Oct. 23, embodies these values. Yet the story it tells is not an American story but a Hungarian one.
The Destruction of Churches and Religious Communities in Ukraine Matters
As you enter Kyiv’s Peace Temple Church’s main hall, the first thing that strikes you are hundreds of boxes from the World Food Programme, waiting for distribution to those in need. Reverend Volodymyr Kondor explained to us that not so long ago the same hall was packed with hundreds of people seeking shelter from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s barbaric onslaught. In Ukraine, churches have become civil society’s safety net in addition to serving as houses of worship.
Civil Society Can Help Rebuild Ukraine
Partnership with local Ukrainian NGOs and churches ensures the most efficient and speedy use of foreign aid.
the bumpy car ride on sometimes-unpaved roads takes a good thirty minutes to go from the center of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to reach the Hebron IT Academy.