CEU Budapest rector Ignatieff wins Dan David Prize for ‘Defending Democracy’

Michael Ignatieff, the president and rector of Central European University, has been awarded the 2019 Dan David Prize for his outstanding contribution to the defense of democracy.

CEU press release said, awarded for innovative and interdisciplinary research, the annual Prize recognizes individuals and organizations whose humanistic, scientific and technological accomplishments represent remarkable achievements in selected fields. This year’s fields are Macro History, Defending Democracy and Combating Climate Change. Ignatieff shares the prize for Defending Democracy with fellow laureate, Reporters Without Borders, an organization based in France that promotes and defends press internationally.

“My first reaction was utter astonishment, followed by gratitude and then, since this is recognition for work done in defense of democracy, the feeling that I still have lots to do,” said Ignatieff.

The board of the Dan David Prize highlighted Ignatieff’s leadership as the President and Rector of Central European University in Budapest, standing in the front lines against the campaign to stifle academic freedom, free expression and pluralism in the country.

“The liberal democratic order faces a rising tide of new authoritarianism and populism; the very values that have sustained freedom and democracy are called into question,” said Ariel David, a member of the Dan David Prize’s board and son of the Prize founder.