The Legacy of Václav Havel - Room inauguration at Palazzo Buontalenti
In this context, the event seeks to bring together different perspectives on the life, thought, and legacy of Václav Havel, examining how his ideas on dissent, democracy, and human rights remain relevant in today's world. By reflecting on Havel's engagement with civic responsibility, political courage, and the defence of freedom, the discussion will explore how his experience and vision can inspire responses to contemporary democratic challenges, the erosion of fundamental rights, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies both in Europe and globally.
The event will be accompanied by an exhibition dedicated to Václav Havel, featuring photographs by his official photographer, Karel Cudlín and selected documents from the Historical Archives of the European Union.
About Vaclav Havel:
Václav Havel (1936-2011) was a Czech playwright, dissident, and statesman who played a central role in the peaceful transition of Czechoslovakia from a communist regime to a democracy. During the period of communist rule, Havel emerged as a leading voice of dissent, using his writings, essays, and plays to critique authoritarianism, defend human rights, and advocate for civil society. His activism, including his involvement with Charter 77, led to multiple imprisonments and persecution by the state, making him an enduring symbol of moral courage and resistance.
Following the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Havel became the last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic, shaping the country's democratic institutions and promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and European integration. Throughout his political and literary career, he emphasised the importance of individual responsibility, civic engagement, and the defence of freedom, principles that resonate far beyond the Czech context.
Havel's writings and public interventions have influenced debates on democracy, dissent, and human rights worldwide. His legacy continues to inspire activists, scholars, and policymakers confronting contemporary challenges to democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. The commemoration of his life and work remains a testament to the enduring power of conscience, civic courage, and intellectual engagement in the defence of democratic values.
PROGRAMME
16:00 Welcoming remarks
Fabrizio Tassinari, Executive Director, Florence School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute
16:05 Presentation of the panel and a small contextualisation of who Vaclav Havel was
Filip Kostelka, Director of Graduate Studies and Full-time Professor, Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute
16:10 Vaclav Havel's thoughts and the legacies of dissent in the age of democratic crisis
Jacques Rupnik, Emeritus Research Professor, Sciences Po Paris, former advisor to President Havel
16:35 Seeing Vaclav Havel: Czech and Global Perspectives
Eva Krejcova, Junior Lecturer, University of Lausanne, Visiting Fellow, Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute
17:00 Q&A
17:25 Closing remarks
Adéla Verner Sýkorová, First Secretary of the Czech Embassy
17:30 Moving to the Vaclav Havel room
17:40 Plaque Unveiling
Adéla Verner Sýkorová, First Secretary of the Czech Embassy
The event will be open to both the EUI community and the public. Attendance will also be available online.
This event is associated with the EUI 50th anniversary celebrations.