Irena Veisaite Memorial Lecture. Michael Ignatieff “Embattled Freedom: Reinventing the Liberal Ideal for the 21st Century”
January 16 | 15:00
We are pleased to invite you to the inaugural Professor Irena Veisaitė Memorial Lecture, which will take place on January 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Vilnius University’s Aula Parva Hall, Universiteto g. 3, Vilnius.
The first lecture in this series, “Embattled Freedom: Reinventing the Liberal Ideal for the 21st Century,” will be delivered by Professor Michael Ignatieff, who will invite us to reflect on the future of liberal democracy, the resilience of societies, and the very idea of freedom.
This initiative of the Open Lithuania Foundation was born from a desire to preserve and continue what Professor Irena Veisaitė embodied throughout her life: tolerance, respect for others, and a profound commitment to Lithuania’s democracy, open society, and intellectual life. Each year, distinguished thinkers from around the world will be invited to deliver the lecture, continuing her legacy and fostering discussion on issues essential to liberal democracy.
Professor Michael Ignatieff is one of the most prominent contemporary scholars of political ethics, a writer, former President of the Central European University (CEU), and a defender of academic freedom. His work on human rights, the challenges of authoritarianism, the protection of academic freedom, and the resilience of communities amid eroding trust networks aligns closely with Irena Veisaitė’s vision: that for Lithuania to be truly free, it must take a serious look at both the wounds of its past and the responsibilities of the present.
