Professor Tibor Glant, a leading authority on Hungarian and Eastern European politics
and culture, will discuss “Current Politics and Economics in Hungary” at 7 p.m. Thursday,
April 18 at Ferris State University.
Glant is department chair of the Institute for North American Studies at the University of Debrecen in Debrecen, Hungary, and a leading authority on Hungarian and Eastern European politics and culture. He is the guest speaker for the Robert Ferguson Memorial Fulbright Lecture, which will be held in the College of Business, Room 111.
“Students need to understand that even a very small country such as Hungary is a major contributor to western culture. It has been in the middle of every major political event since its inception in 1896,” said John Jablonski, a professor of English who completed a sabbatical at the University of Debrecen in 2012. “Ferris students need a historical perspective, which we Americans do not, for the most part, recognize or honor.”
Glant will provide perspective on the country’s recent political and economic changes, as well as the challenges it faces in the transition from its socialist past.
“Professor Glant is a young and dynamic scholar who is the author of several books and articles in both English and Hungarian. He runs perhaps the finest American Studies program in Central Europe, a department that teaches American literature and culture, Hispanic literature, Canadian literature, cultural studies in the latter two disciplines, and special topics in American Studies,” Jablonski said.
The collaborative event is sponsored by the Ferris Fulbright Association and Political Engagement Project. It is free and open to the public.
“Professor Glant is truly an internationalist. He has established university-to-university programs with Germany, Romania and with the U.S.,” Jablonski said. “He is very interested in Ferris, our programs and students, and he is eager to build both student and faculty exchanges between Ferris and the University of Debrecen.”