Address by Dr András Baka, President of Hungary, at the opening ceremony of the 9th International Congress of Hungarian Studies

Distinguished Congress, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the opening of the IX International Congress of Hungarian Studies. Throughout the several decades of the congress’s history, it has become a cherished tradition for the incumbent President of Hungary to serve as patron of this prestigious academic event. At the beginning of my term of office, I am honoured to continue this tradition, thereby also expressing the Hungarian State’s appreciation for the international community of Hungarian studies.

The Congress will address the Hungarian language, Hungarian culture and Hungarian history – in short, the foundations of our national identity. It will focus on the shared heritage that unites us, wherever we may live in the world, and whose study and understanding are both a matter of national importance and an international academic endeavour.

Twenty years ago, in his opening address, President László Sólyom noted that the Congress had only a single foreign speaker. Today, Hungarian studies departments from twenty-two countries around the world are represented. This is not merely a matter of numerical growth. It demonstrates that an international academic community has been established and strengthened, bringing together different scholarly traditions, perspectives and lines of inquiry. To quote the motto of the International Association for Hungarian Studies, we can say that “the seeds sown have now borne fruit”. I would add that the harvest is richer than ever!

This year’s congress main theme – ‘Sources of Self-Awareness – Changes in the image of Hungarianness’ – is particularly timely.

In times of rapid political, social and cultural change, self-awareness takes on even greater significance. It is important for a nation to know its past and its values, and to be able to see itself through the eyes of others.
Examining how Hungarians are perceived is therefore one of the key sources of our self-knowledge. Understanding what image of Hungary is taking shape in the world, and what historical experiences, cultural encounters or even misunderstandings that have shaped it, brings us closer to a more accurate understanding of ourselves.

But the image of Hungarians in the world is not merely a legacy. We can shape it ourselves: through our achievements, our culture, our scientific discoveries and the way in which we, as Hungarians, make our presence felt in the world. This entails a responsibility: to preserve, understand, enrich and pass on what we have inherited.

To this end, academic freedom and the exchange of different perspectives are indispensable. Genuine scientific dialogue creates space for debate, where questions and differing viewpoints can bring us closer to a more accurate understanding. Criticism fulfils its true role when it encourages further reflection and helps us approach the subject of our research or interpretation with greater nuance and from a different perspective.
As President of Hungary, I believe it is important that we use the tools of diplomacy to support any initiative that serves to preserve and enhance our shared values.

Science and culture have the power to forge links between nations that can withstand the political upheavals of any given era and, in the long term, strengthen Hungary’s intellectual presence in the world and enhance international recognition of its intellectual heritage.

The timescale of science extends beyond a single human lifetime. Every source uncovered, every new insight gained and every memory preserved adds to the body of knowledge we bequeath to future generations. What you are researching, understanding and debating today may well become a source of self-knowledge for others tomorrow.

It is a particular pleasure that the Congress is being hosted by Miskolc and Sárospatak: Miskolc, a city of creative energy and engineering ingenuity, and Sárospatak, the centuries-old cradle of Hungarian intellectual life.

I hope that the IX International Congress of Hungarian Studies will be characterised by scholarly curiosity, sincere dialogue and new insights, and that through its work it will enrich both our knowledge of Hungarian culture and our understanding of ourselves.

Thank you for listening so attentively, and I wish you all every success in your work!