Masaryk Days 2025 drew attention to historical issues and discussed the current state of affairs in Russia and Europe.
Polish columnist and diplomat Piotr Skwiecińskiwas asked whether Russia is a threat and what are the ideological sources of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Skwieciński is the author of ”The End of the Russian World?”, an insightful analysis of the Russian regime´s recent narratives.
“Since the 15th century, Russia has seen itself as the antithesis of Europe,” said Skwieciński in the introduction to his lecture. “It is thus the only great power that defines itself as the antithesis of something else. Perceiving itself as a contradiction is one of its natural characteristics, it lends Russian politics a unique ability to transform anything non-Russian into its direct opposite.” The willingness of Russians to listen to big ideas, according to Skwieciński, is both their great strength and weakness. “Their strength lies in unity, because a nation united behind a great idea is much stronger than one lacking such a thing. But at the same time, dependence on great ideas is very dangerous for Russia. Once a great idea proves unworkable or unpopular, its loss has much more drastic and devastating consequences for the nation,” the columnist warned.
The second speaker was historian Petr Hlaváček, who delivered a lecture on Masaryk, Europe and the “Russian world”. He reflected on the fact that Masaryk had little doubt that Czechs were European and belonged to the Western civilisation, and yet he struggled with Russian culture and political thought.
In a live broadcast of the Rewrite History podcast, co-hosts Michal Stehlík and Martin Groman offered an insight into Masaryk´s thinking. Although an idealist, Masaryk never shied away from realistic political considerations, and this was doubly true with regard to Russia. The podcast presented Masaryk´s insights, which remain very relevant in today´s heated geopolitical climate.
Medal for Daniel Kroupa
As part of this year´s Masaryk Days, Masaryk University awarded the Roger Scruton Medal to politician, philosopher and university lecturer Daniel Kroupa for his contributions in the field of human dignity and human rights.
Looking at the life´s work of Daniel Kroupa, his contribution is beyond reproach: he has contributed to the building of political, social and university culture in Czechia and promoted the moral values of tolerance and responsibility in the 1970s, worked with Václav Havel and Jan Patočka and became a signatory of Charter 77.
“But there is another reason. Daniel Kroupa knew Roger Scruton personally and took part in his events since 1979, he was involved in the organisation of home philosophy seminars in Prague related to Roger Scruton's activities at that time,” said Jiří Hanuš, MU Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy, Academic and Cultural Affairs. For Daniel Kroupa, Roger Scruton was a friend whom the philosopher and journalist also respected for his steadfast and long-standing relationship with the Czech Republic, its people and its language.
After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Daniel Kroupa served in the Czechoslovak and later Czech parliaments, as a deputy and senator, and briefly also as a member of the European Parliament. After leaving politics, he devoted himself to social services and teaching, especially at the J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, where he headed the Department of Political Science and Philosophy until 2015.
Daniel Kroupa will receive the medal at the earliest opportunity as he could not attend the Masaryk Days in person
Recordings from both lectures are available on the Masaryk University YouTube channel and the Masaryk Days website.