Educating for Democracy: The Case of the European Humanities University

Cosponsored by Friends of European Humanities University and the Ion Ratiu Democracy Award at the Woodrow Wilson Center This luncheon program will convey the continuing impact of the European Humanities University (EHU) through exchanges with current EHU students and remarks from the university’s founding rector, Anatoli Mikhailov and Eurasia Foundation President, Horton Beebe-Center. The students, a live example of civic education in action, will help to focus the session on the challenges and rewards of educating a rising generation, especially in a state with an authoritarian government. EHU was established in 1992 in Belarus to foster critical thinking, openness, and personal responsibility among its students. The university has been based in neighboring Vilnius, Lithuania since it resisted an attempted government takeover and was forcibly closed in 2004 by the authoritarian government of Belarus. RSVP is required to attend. Please note that seating for this event is available on a first come, first served basis. Please call on the day of the event to confirm. Please bring an identification card with a photograph (e.g. driver's license, work ID, or university ID) as part of the building's security procedures.

The Kennan Institute speaker series is made possible through the generous support of the Title VIII Program of the U.S. Department of State.