Organized by the Centre for Socio-Political Research and in cooperation with the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, Belgian historian and philosopher David Engels delivered a lecture on the topic “Ideology and Politics in Contemporary Europe.” The lecture was held on the occasion of the publication and promotion of the Serbian translation of Engels’ book.

According to David Engels, author of “Defending Europe as a Civilization” the current ideology cannot provide the foundations necessary for the survival of European civilization.

A nation that loses its identity ceases to exist — this is the clear message of David Engels, Belgian historian, philosopher, and former head of the Department of Roman History at the University of Brussels. Still, Engels believes that there is hope for Europe’s recovery.

“There is hope, because more and more people are recognizing that the current ideology in Europe, which relies on nihilism and relativism, cannot offer European civilization what it needs to survive,” says David Engels.

What is needed, according to Engels, is a return to traditional principles and the overcoming of the identity crisis. He shared his views on ideology and politics in contemporary Europe during a lecture at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka.

“David Engels is one of the more significant philosophers and researchers offering a different image and a different perspective on Europe — on what it once was and what it could become in the future,” said Vlade Simović from the Faculty of Political Sciences.

The Director of the Centre for Socio-Political Research of the Republic of Srpska, Dušan Pavlović, emphasized that Engels is one of the most recognized experts on the future fate of Western Europe, especially as a civilization.

“He speaks about the current state of Western Europe, the causes or possible causes of its crisis, and what he sees as potential long-term solutions and a way out of that crisis,” said Pavlović.

When it comes to long-term solutions for the great Western European crisis, Engels sees the way forward in restoring the authentic centuries-old practices and virtues of European society as a whole — which is also the main guiding idea of his book.

The book was published in Serbian, in the edition for the Republic of Srpska, by the Centre for Socio-Political Research of the Republic of Srpska. The promotion and discussion about the book will take place on Thursday, October 16, at the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska, beginning at 11 a.m.