Foreword

Dear Readers,

On the occasion of our Aspen Annual Conference, it is my greatest pleasure to introduce you to the first and only printed version of the Aspen Review in 2021. Despite transitioning to an online form of publishing, we have decided to bring you a selection of our most exciting and insightful articles reacting to the socio-political events that have moved the world. You can still enjoy a brand-new article on our website on a weekly basis and dive into the political, societal or cultural insights which our authors provide. 

Are we seeing a new generation in Central European politics? Martin Ehl shares his insights, as we witness the creation of The Generation of Great Hope, and reflects on what the best of Central Europe’s emerging top politicians have in common. A great example is Zuzana Čaputová, the current President of the Slovak Republic, who brings fresh air, positive values and principles into politics. And who is responsible for the unprecedented struggles brought to us by the pandemic and climate change? We’ve known that pandemics are possible. We’ve known that climate change is threatening all of us and that there are ecosystems on the verge of destruction. There’s enough blame to go around, says leading futurist Jamie Metzl in an interview with Jakub Dymek.

Brendan Simms, Professor at the University of Cambridge, wonders in his comprehensive article, whether Europe will miss Merkel or not. “We don’t yet know whether Merkel will go down in history as the woman who destroyed Europe or saved it”, said Hans Kundnani in 2018. The critics are becoming louder and the supporters increasingly falling silent.

Aspen Institute CE is looking forward to remaining committed to opening up important topics and bringing positive change to our society. We are proud to be helping with searching for solutions and encouraging dialogue, especially in these challenging times. We will continue with our mission, not only in the form of Aspen Review articles, but also with our wide range of additional programs and efforts. 

I would like to express my deep gratitude for your support and we cannot wait to connect with you at one of Aspen CE’s programs. 

I wish you health, positive energy, respect and courage.

 

Milan Vašina 

Executive Director Aspen Institute CE