MCC Students Engage in Diplomatic, Cultural, and Academic Experiences in the United States

During the study tour, the MCC delegation first met with Ambassador Szabolcs Takács at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington DC. At the meeting, we discussed the current state of US-Hungarian relations and the future development of transatlantic relations after the Ambassador's report. The second stop of the program was the Cato Institute, where the students were guided by Conor Fogarty and were given an insight into the Institute's daily life and activities. Grant Babcock, Cato Institute's Philosophy and Politics Fellow, in his lecture "Conservatism and Libertarianism", clearly explained the fundamental differences between the two political ideologies and their role in American public life.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Heritage Foundation, where the focus was on the role of US foreign policy in a changing world. Preston Brashers, Jordan Embree, Andrew J. Harding and Miles Pollard shared their experiences and research. In particular, Brashers spoke on tax and fiscal reforms to support economic growth, while Embree and Harding shared their views on national security and Asia studies.

The delegation then visited Washington's historic landmarks, including the White House, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln, Jefferson and War Memorials. Presentations highlighted the historical significance and symbolic power of the sites.

The next day, the delegation visited George Mason University, where they were welcomed by Brian Benison and Shaun Suthrell. During an exchange of views on the specificities of legal studies in the US and the opportunities available to foreign students, the participants gained useful insights into higher education in the US.

Following the morning program, the delegation visited Arlington National Cemetery, where they paid tribute to heroes of American history. In the second half of the day, the next stop was the Institute of World Politics, where Ashton Earl gave a tour of the Institute's building and day-to-day operations, followed by a lecture by Professor Dennis Teti on terminology related to American ideologies and broad issues in American ideology. The delegation then visited Georgetown University, where Matthew Mangiaracina, Director of the Georgetown Center for Constitutional Studies, and Arielle Vertsman and Christian Lee Gonzalez Rivera introduced them to the world of American higher education and conservative thought.

The next day was dedicated to the Smithsonian Institution's outstanding museums. The delegation visited the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American History Museum and the National Gallery of Art. These sites provided a comprehensive view of American history, culture and art, particularly as it relates to the formation and development of American identity.

The Washington program concluded with a trip to Wilmington, where the delegation was introduced to the ideals of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in a lecture by Dan McCarthy, a prominent expert on the ISI, on the historical and contemporary significance of American conservatism. A tour of the ISI campus and a visit to the Winterthur Heritage Site and Botanical Gardens further deepened the delegation's knowledge of American history, economic history and the conservative tradition.

The delegation also visited Philadelphia, where they toured the University of Pennsylvania campus, Independence Hall and the Museum of the American Revolution. These visits provided a deep historical context for understanding the American struggle for independence and the birth of the Constitution.

The program concluded with an Open House and a professional conference at the ISI. In the first part of the program, a panel discussion entitled "Reassessing Reagan and Nixon" took place, with George Will, Lord Conrad Black and Dan McCarthy discussing the political legacies of the former US presidents. The moderator was Susan Hanssen, who helped the discussion to explore the significant events and impacts of the era. This was followed by a discussion on "The Democratization of American Christianity" with Rusty Reno, Nathan Hatch and Joshua Mitchell, moderated by Johnny Burtka. Participants examined how the spread and application of Christian ideas has shaped American society. This was followed by the "Top 20 under 30" awards ceremony, which recognized young talent in the ISI network. The morning concluded with a panel on "God and Man at Yale 2024", where Michael Knowles and Robert P. George gave their views on issues of education and religious freedom policy in the US, moderated by Michael Brendan Dougherty. This conference provided a unique opportunity for participants to deepen their knowledge of the current challenges and opportunities for American conservatism and to connect with ISI faculty and students.

Overall, the trip proved to be a great success from a professional point of view, as the members of the delegation gained valuable experience and new international contacts. The insight into the political, cultural and historical life of the United States contributed to further strengthening the relations between Hungary and the United States.