The Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Széchenyi István University hosted the inaugural "The Role of States in the 21st Century" conference. Nearly 50 researchers, including from the United States, Czechia, Germany, Slovakia and Poland, presented at the event, addressing the responsibilities and challenges of states within the emerging global order.

In the 21st century, the role of the state is continuously evolving due to rapid technological advancements, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and pressing global issues such as climate change, public health crises, and social inequalities. To examine these dynamics, the Deák Ferenc Faculty organized a two-day international conference on 5–6 December. The event aimed to bring together domestic and international scholars to explore how states can address modern challenges, promote sustainable development, and enhance societal well-being.

"In the current state of governmental responsibilities, significant differences exist between American and European models, and even within Europe, many dividing lines are discernible. Adding to these complexities is digitalization, which raises questions about the integration of nation-states and sovereignty into the global order," explained Dr Gábor Hulkó, the chief organizer of the conference and the Faculty’s Vice Dean for Academic and International Affairs. He added that the conference’s concept was developed with the involvement of Dr István Stumpf, a professor at Széchenyi István University and a member of the Prime Minister’s Strategic Advisory Board.

The Vice-Dean highlighted that the two-day event provided an excellent platform for lawyers, political scientists and other experts to engage in productive discussions. "Enhancing the international visibility of our Faculty was also one of our goals, which is why several of our lecturers presented their research at the event," he noted. He also emphasized that relationships among the participating universities had strengthened, paving the way for joint publications, scientific programmes and even new training initiatives. Given the success of the conference, he revealed plans to organize it again next year.

The opening ceremony featured prominent figures such as Dr Gábor Hulkó, Dr Juraj Vačok of Slovakia’s Comenius University, Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International and Strategic Relations at Széchenyi István University, Prof Dr Péter Smuk, Dean of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Dr Cleopatra Charles of Rutgers SPAA in the United States, Dr István Stumpf and Dr Michal Radvan of Czechia’s Masaryk University. (Photo credit: András Adorján)

In her remarks at the opening ceremony, Dr Lukács emphasized the crucial role the Deák Ferenc Faculty plays in the University’s academic endeavours, partly because it oversees one of the institution’s four doctoral schools. "Our University is primarily characterized by its technical, engineering, and technological disciplines. However, our law faculty also represents high-quality education and outstanding research, of which we are justifiably proud," she said. She expressed gratitude not only to the international presenters but also to representatives from domestic partner institutions, highlighting the value of these collaborations in advancing Hungarian academic activities.

The Dean, Prof Dr Péter Smuk, underscored the interdisciplinary nature of the conference, which addressed legal, political science, cybersecurity, economic, and social science issues. He noted that over 40 research projects presented at the conference would be published in respected professional journals. "The ambitions of our University are reflected in our efforts to achieve shared goals with our partners, building on existing relationships and fostering long-term, fruitful collaborations," he emphasized.

The conference featured presentations on topics such as rethinking state sovereignty, harnessing modern technologies, EU legislative processes, and new directions in public policy. A highlight of the programme was a lecture by Prof Dr István Stumpf on the transformation of the global order, where he discussed the challenges to national sovereignty and shed light on the latest battlegrounds in European political struggles. The event concluded with an online plenary session on cybersecurity, titled “Collaboration Opportunities Between the United States and Europe with a Special Focus on Cybersecurity”, during which Joseph Squillace, a professor from Penn State Schuylkill, outlined opportunities for cross-border global cooperation.