why do you think the Fulbright Commission is important is it because it
Commission is important is it because it
Commission is important is it because it provides generous grants to allow travel
provides generous grants to allow travel
provides generous grants to allow travel to the United States to do research or
to the United States to do research or
to the United States to do research or is it because it looks good on your CV
is it because it looks good on your CV
is it because it looks good on your CV to have a Fulbright fellowship I know
to have a Fulbright fellowship I know
to have a Fulbright fellowship I know some of you tonight
some of you tonight
some of you tonight are alumni of the Fulbright Scheme so
are alumni of the Fulbright Scheme so
are alumni of the Fulbright Scheme so you really know how an award from
you really know how an award from
you really know how an award from Fulbright can advance your career but
Fulbright can advance your career but
Fulbright can advance your career but the reason why I like the Fulbright
the reason why I like the Fulbright
the reason why I like the Fulbright Commission is because it’s founded on
Commission is because it’s founded on
Commission is because it’s founded on the principle of academic freedom and
the principle of academic freedom and
the principle of academic freedom and this university also is founded on the
this university also is founded on the
this university also is founded on the principle of academic freedom but we
principle of academic freedom but we
principle of academic freedom but we often take it for granted we really only
often take it for granted we really only
often take it for granted we really only notice academic freedom when it’s being
notice academic freedom when it’s being
notice academic freedom when it’s being taken away like last year in Turkey
taken away like last year in Turkey
taken away like last year in Turkey after the military coup when faculty was
after the military coup when faculty was
after the military coup when faculty was sacked from their jobs and some were
sacked from their jobs and some were
sacked from their jobs and some were imprisoned or in Russia when a foreign
imprisoned or in Russia when a foreign
imprisoned or in Russia when a foreign university was closed down and now in
university was closed down and now in
university was closed down and now in Hungary tonight I’d like to share some
Hungary tonight I’d like to share some
Hungary tonight I’d like to share some of the ramifications of letting academic
of the ramifications of letting academic
of the ramifications of letting academic freedom slip away and I will ask one
freedom slip away and I will ask one
freedom slip away and I will ask one small favor something that you can do to
small favor something that you can do to
small favor something that you can do to help defend academic freedom even though
help defend academic freedom even though
help defend academic freedom even though it is in a faraway country in two days
it is in a faraway country in two days
it is in a faraway country in two days time I travel to Budapest
time I travel to Budapest
time I travel to Budapest and to some Budapest is a city with
and to some Budapest is a city with
and to some Budapest is a city with spectacular bridges and historic
spectacular bridges and historic
spectacular bridges and historic buildings and it’s a great place to
buildings and it’s a great place to
buildings and it’s a great place to visit it has many restaurants and bars
visit it has many restaurants and bars
visit it has many restaurants and bars and cafes and nightclubs
and cafes and nightclubs
and cafes and nightclubs it really is a party city I love it and
it really is a party city I love it and
it really is a party city I love it and so do my students but the serious reason
so do my students but the serious reason
so do my students but the serious reason why I’m going there
why I’m going there
why I’m going there is that I have worked for 15 years at
is that I have worked for 15 years at
is that I have worked for 15 years at the Central European University cu is a
the Central European University cu is a
the Central European University cu is a private American University that was
private American University that was
private American University that was established in 1991 after the breakup of
established in 1991 after the breakup of
established in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union the breakup of the
the Soviet Union the breakup of the
the Soviet Union the breakup of the Soviet Union marked the start of a great
Soviet Union marked the start of a great
Soviet Union marked the start of a great reform process known as the transition
reform process known as the transition
reform process known as the transition this was a transition to democracy in
this was a transition to democracy in
this was a transition to democracy in the former communist countries to the
the former communist countries to the
the former communist countries to the introduction of the rule of law and the
introduction of the rule of law and the
introduction of the rule of law and the creation of markets and into this
creation of markets and into this
creation of markets and into this context the university brought
context the university brought
context the university brought american-style english-language graduate
american-style english-language graduate
american-style english-language graduate education to help train the new
education to help train the new
education to help train the new generation of leaders who would guide
generation of leaders who would guide
generation of leaders who would guide this process of transition and then a
this process of transition and then a
this process of transition and then a decade later the university would also
decade later the university would also
decade later the university would also provide research and analysis for some
provide research and analysis for some
provide research and analysis for some of those transition countries in their
of those transition countries in their
of those transition countries in their quest to become new member states of the
quest to become new member states of the
quest to become new member states of the European Union this dual process of
European Union this dual process of
European Union this dual process of transition and accession has been bumpy
transition and accession has been bumpy
transition and accession has been bumpy it’s been a process of two steps forward
it’s been a process of two steps forward
it’s been a process of two steps forward and one step backwards but since 2010 in
and one step backwards but since 2010 in
and one step backwards but since 2010 in Hungary when a vides the political party
Hungary when a vides the political party
Hungary when a vides the political party was elected it’s been a case of two
was elected it’s been a case of two
was elected it’s been a case of two steps backwards the Prime Minister
steps backwards the Prime Minister
steps backwards the Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a big fan of Vladimir
Viktor Orban is a big fan of Vladimir
Viktor Orban is a big fan of Vladimir Putin he likes to emulate the style of
Putin he likes to emulate the style of
Putin he likes to emulate the style of Vladimir Putin and he wants to introduce
Vladimir Putin and he wants to introduce
Vladimir Putin and he wants to introduce to Hungary what he calls an illiberal
to Hungary what he calls an illiberal
to Hungary what he calls an illiberal state a near liberal state he’s gone
state a near liberal state he’s gone
state a near liberal state he’s gone about this by appointing his friends and
about this by appointing his friends and
about this by appointing his friends and supporters to key political posts in
supporters to key political posts in
supporters to key political posts in order to take command of the economy the
order to take command of the economy the
order to take command of the economy the is crony capitalism the Hungarian
is crony capitalism the Hungarian
is crony capitalism the Hungarian government has also clamped down very
government has also clamped down very
government has also clamped down very effectively on the Free Press and in the
effectively on the Free Press and in the
effectively on the Free Press and in the past few years the government has also
past few years the government has also
past few years the government has also been harassing foreign funded
been harassing foreign funded
been harassing foreign funded nongovernmental organizations just three
nongovernmental organizations just three
nongovernmental organizations just three months ago the Hungarian government
months ago the Hungarian government
months ago the Hungarian government fast-tracked legislation through the
fast-tracked legislation through the
fast-tracked legislation through the Parliament that would in effect closed
Parliament that would in effect closed
Parliament that would in effect closed down the university in the propaganda
down the university in the propaganda
down the university in the propaganda campaign since to justify this
campaign since to justify this
campaign since to justify this legislation political leaders from
legislation political leaders from
legislation political leaders from Fidesz have said that see EU is just a
Fidesz have said that see EU is just a
Fidesz have said that see EU is just a front organisation it is a front
front organisation it is a front
front organisation it is a front organisation for the political interests
organisation for the political interests
organisation for the political interests and the loonie left-wing ideas of George
and the loonie left-wing ideas of George
and the loonie left-wing ideas of George Soros the billionaire philanthropist
Soros the billionaire philanthropist
Soros the billionaire philanthropist he’s no saint he has also been
he’s no saint he has also been
he’s no saint he has also been criticized quite extensively for being
criticized quite extensively for being
criticized quite extensively for being an international financial speculator
an international financial speculator
an international financial speculator but he is important to this story
but he is important to this story
but he is important to this story because he founded the university and
because he founded the university and
because he founded the university and endowed it with hundreds of millions of
endowed it with hundreds of millions of
endowed it with hundreds of millions of dollars the fitters representatives also
dollars the fitters representatives also
dollars the fitters representatives also say that the university is full of
say that the university is full of
say that the university is full of radical ratbag globalist elites people
radical ratbag globalist elites people
radical ratbag globalist elites people like bluestocking to me see they say my
like bluestocking to me see they say my
like bluestocking to me see they say my feminist colleagues are undermining
feminist colleagues are undermining
feminist colleagues are undermining traditional family values and that other
traditional family values and that other
traditional family values and that other researchers looking at European affairs
researchers looking at European affairs
researchers looking at European affairs are in cahoots with the European Union
are in cahoots with the European Union
are in cahoots with the European Union to undermine Hungarian national
to undermine Hungarian national
to undermine Hungarian national sovereignty by facilitating a flow of
sovereignty by facilitating a flow of
sovereignty by facilitating a flow of refugees into the country refugees who
refugees into the country refugees who
refugees into the country refugees who might also bring terrorists with them if
might also bring terrorists with them if
might also bring terrorists with them if you visit see you you will see that it
you visit see you you will see that it
you visit see you you will see that it is a very cosmopolitan place it has
is a very cosmopolitan place it has
is a very cosmopolitan place it has students from over 90
students from over 90
students from over 90 countries including Australian students
so in many senses it’s like Fulbright a
so in many senses it’s like Fulbright a gigantic exchange program you will have
gigantic exchange program you will have
gigantic exchange program you will have seen in some of the materials that were
seen in some of the materials that were
seen in some of the materials that were distributed tonight that Senator
distributed tonight that Senator
distributed tonight that Senator Fulbright hoped that the mistress that
Fulbright hoped that the mistress that
Fulbright hoped that the mistress that set my nation’s apart would be reduced
set my nation’s apart would be reduced
set my nation’s apart would be reduced through educational exchange but in the
through educational exchange but in the
through educational exchange but in the case of CEU it appears that the
case of CEU it appears that the
case of CEU it appears that the university has aggravated mistrust with
university has aggravated mistrust with
university has aggravated mistrust with the Hungarian government and this is
the Hungarian government and this is
the Hungarian government and this is because CEUs core values to promote an
because CEUs core values to promote an
because CEUs core values to promote an open society and to promote tolerance
open society and to promote tolerance
open society and to promote tolerance and transparent political institutions
and transparent political institutions
and transparent political institutions directly challenges the authoritarianism
directly challenges the authoritarianism
directly challenges the authoritarianism of the Hungarian government so why am I
of the Hungarian government so why am I
of the Hungarian government so why am I making such a fuss about zu why is it
making such a fuss about zu why is it
making such a fuss about zu why is it important
important
important see you has become the global hotspot
see you has become the global hotspot
see you has become the global hotspot for major debates about the future of
for major debates about the future of
for major debates about the future of the European Union debates about deeper
the European Union debates about deeper
the European Union debates about deeper integration after brexit when Britain
integration after brexit when Britain
integration after brexit when Britain leaves quite possibly another country or
leaves quite possibly another country or
leaves quite possibly another country or two and debates about mass immigration
two and debates about mass immigration
two and debates about mass immigration into the into Europe immigration that is
into the into Europe immigration that is
into the into Europe immigration that is causing fears populism and xenophobia
euro and peas think see EU is important
euro and peas think see EU is important they have said in Parliament that Viktor
they have said in Parliament that Viktor
they have said in Parliament that Viktor Orban wants European money but not our
Orban wants European money but not our
Orban wants European money but not our values they say that the Hungarian
values they say that the Hungarian
values they say that the Hungarian government has transgressed the European
government has transgressed the European
government has transgressed the European Charter of Fundamental Rights this
Charter of Fundamental Rights this
Charter of Fundamental Rights this Charter says that the Arts and
Charter says that the Arts and
Charter says that the Arts and scientific research will be free of
scientific research will be free of
scientific research will be free of constraint consequently
constraint consequently
constraint consequently they’re very concerned about what the
they’re very concerned about what the
they’re very concerned about what the Hungarian government has done because it
Hungarian government has done because it
Hungarian government has done because it completely undermines European values
completely undermines European values
completely undermines European values and democratic freedoms the people know
and democratic freedoms the people know
and democratic freedoms the people know this there have been major
this there have been major
this there have been major demonstrations in Budapest and in some
demonstrations in Budapest and in some
demonstrations in Budapest and in some other cities 20 Nobel Prize winners have
other cities 20 Nobel Prize winners have
other cities 20 Nobel Prize winners have sent letters of support Angela Merkel
sent letters of support Angela Merkel
sent letters of support Angela Merkel the German Chancellor has also indicated
the German Chancellor has also indicated
the German Chancellor has also indicated her support for C EU as has Kofi Annan
her support for C EU as has Kofi Annan
her support for C EU as has Kofi Annan the former secretary-general of the
the former secretary-general of the
the former secretary-general of the United Nations and our very own Gareth
United Nations and our very own Gareth
United Nations and our very own Gareth Evans former Foreign Minister of
Evans former Foreign Minister of
Evans former Foreign Minister of Australia so you might think that
Australia so you might think that
Australia so you might think that Hungary is a far away country but at the
Hungary is a far away country but at the
Hungary is a far away country but at the moment it’s significant of being on the
moment it’s significant of being on the
moment it’s significant of being on the front line of a major war of ideas that
front line of a major war of ideas that
front line of a major war of ideas that is much bigger than about its own
is much bigger than about its own
is much bigger than about its own existence seeing you is in a battle to
existence seeing you is in a battle to
existence seeing you is in a battle to preserve and protect European values and
preserve and protect European values and
preserve and protect European values and democratic freedoms and if you think
democratic freedoms and if you think
democratic freedoms and if you think about it these are also I hope our
about it these are also I hope our
about it these are also I hope our values that we respect as well so in
values that we respect as well so in
values that we respect as well so in closing let me remind you of the TEDx
closing let me remind you of the TEDx
closing let me remind you of the TEDx motto the TEDx motto is ideas worth
motto the TEDx motto is ideas worth
motto the TEDx motto is ideas worth spreading
sometimes those ideas need to be
sometimes those ideas need to be defended so I would ask if you have five
defended so I would ask if you have five
defended so I would ask if you have five minutes to spare on the weekend please
minutes to spare on the weekend please
minutes to spare on the weekend please go online look up CEU find the campaign
go online look up CEU find the campaign
go online look up CEU find the campaign sign up and stand with the institutions
sign up and stand with the institutions
sign up and stand with the institutions that live by and thrive on academic
that live by and thrive on academic
that live by and thrive on academic freedom
freedom
freedom [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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