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On May 28–29, 2025, the MCC Center for Constitutional Politics and the Research Institute for Politics and Government of Ludovika University co-hosted an international conference titled “Christian Realism: Squaring the Circle?” in Budapest. The event was supported by the Danube Institute.
The conference brought together scholars from Europe and North America to explore the theoretical foundations and historical developments of Christian Realism. Discussions focused on the interplay between Christian ethics and political realism, examining how Christian Realism has influenced political thought and practice across different eras and contexts.
Keynote Addresses:
· Robin Lovin (Southern Methodist University) opened the conference with a lecture on “Human Nature and the Irony of History”, providing insights into the philosophical underpinnings of Christian Realism.
· Lord Biggar (University of Oxford) delivered a keynote titled “The Christian Marriage of Morality and Reality: Just War Thinking”, discussing the ethical considerations in warfare from a Christian Realist perspective.
Panel Discussions:
1. Tracing the Roots: The Evolution and Essence of Christian Realism I & II Explored the conceptual origins and diverse interpretations of Christian Realism, with contributions from Mark Edwards, Eric D. Patterson, Matt Andersen, and Ferenc Hörcher.
2. The Niebuhr Perspective on Christian Realism Focused on Reinhold Niebuhr's influence, featuring presentations by Dallas Gingles and Ádám Darabos.
3. Christian Realism Across Eras: The Amsterdam School and the Cold War Examined the application of Christian Realism in different historical contexts, with insights from Robert Joustra and Andrew Finstuen.
4. Divine Diplomacy: Exploring Christian Realism in Global Affairs Discussed the role of Christian Realism in international law and diplomacy, featuring Joseph Capizzi and Joshua Mauldin.
5. Tradition and Belief: Conservative Realism and Political Religions Analyzed the intersection of conservative thought and political religion through the lens of Christian Realism, with talks by Gergely Szilvay and Tamás Nyirkos.
The conference facilitated meaningful dialogues on the relevance of Christian Realism in contemporary political discourse, highlighting its potential to bridge moral principles with pragmatic governance.
