Joint conference of the MCC Center for Constitutional Politics and the Ludovika University of Public Service.
Date: 28-29 May 2025
Venue: Mathias Corvinus Collegium / Ludovika University
Keynote speakers:
- Robin Lovin (Southern Methodist University): Human Nature and the Irony of History
- Lord Biggar (University of Oxford): The Christian Marriage of Morality and Reality: Just War Thinking
Conference program
May 28, Wednesday
Venue: Mathias Corvinus Collegium (1113 Budapest, Tas vezér utca 3-7.)
14.00 Welcome speech
14.15 Keynote speech
Robin Lovin (Southern Methodist University): Human Nature and the Irony of History
15.30 Coffee break
15.45 Tracing the Roots: The Evolution and Essence of Christian Realism I.
Mark Edwards (Spring Arbor University): Christian Realism or Christian Realisms? Contesting a Concept
Eric D. Patterson (Regent University): Christianity and Power Politics: Change and Continuity in Three Generations of Christian Realism
16.45 Coffee Break
17.00 Tracing the Roots: The Evolution and Essence of Christian Realism II.
Matt Andersen (University of Oxford): Christian Realism: The Need for a Genealogical Approach
Ferenc Hörcher (Ludovika UPS): Traditions of Catholic Political Realism
18.00 Closing
May 29, Thursday
Venue: Ludovika University of Public Service Side Building (1083 Budapest, Ludovika tér 2.)
9.30 Keynote speech
Lord Biggar (University of Oxford): The Christian Marriage of Morality and Reality: Just War Thinking
10.45 Coffee break
11.00 The Niebuhr Perspective on Christian Realism
Dallas Gingles (Southern Methodist University): Christian Realism and the Irony of American Postliberalism
Darabos Ádám (Ludovika UPS): The Making of a Realist Augustine: Niebuhr's Interpretation of Augustine
12.00 Lunch
13.00 Christian Realism Across Eras: the Amsterdam School and the Cold War
Robert Joustra (Redeemer University): Middle Power Christian Realism: The Curious Case of Abraham Kuyper and the Amsterdam School
Andrew Finstuen (Boise State University): Christian Realism and Neo-Evangelicalism in the Cold War Era
14.00 Coffee break
14.15 Divine Diplomacy: Exploring Christian Realism in Global Affairs
Joseph Capizzi (Catholic University of America): Christian Realism and International Law
Joshua Mauldin (Center of Theological Inquiry): America’s Role on the World Stage: Insights from Christian Realism
15.15 Coffee break
15.30 Tradition and Belief: Conservative Realism and Political Religions
Gergely Szilvay (PPCU): Conservative Christianity: Between Political Idealism and Realism
Tamás Nyirkos (Ludovika UPS): The Realist Critique of Political Religions
16.30 Closing
The conference has been organized by the MCC Center for Constitutional Politics and Research Institute for Politics and Government of the Ludovika University of Public Service, and is supported by the Danube Institute.
Organizing committee:
- Ferenc Hörcher (Ludovika University)
- Ádám Darabos (Ludovika University)
- Kálmán Pócza (MCC Center for Constitutional Politics)
For the detailed program of the conference please click here.