The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum welcomed Petr Pavel, the fourth president of the Czech Republic, to its stage at Harvard Kennedy School. Pavel was invited to give the Václav Havel Lecture on Human Rights, Civil Society, and Democracy. The lecture is named in honor of the dissident playwright, who was an instrumental leader in bringing about the peaceful fall of communism in Czechoslovakia and served as its president (1989–1992) and of the Czech Republic (1993–2003).
Michael Žantovský, former Czech ambassador to the United States, introduced the lecture. “In 1995, I was privileged to accompany Havel on his trip to Harvard to receive his honorary degree and deliver the commencement address on the radical renewal of responsibility,” said Žantovský. “I feel doubly privileged—and a little moved—to be here with President Pavel to hear him speak on what responsibility means in the troubled world of today.”
In his address, Pavel spoke of the rise of a global civilization and our collective responsibility for its future. He was clear about the challenges. “Thirty years after Havel’s speech at Harvard, the world is not in a better shape,” he said. “It appears that we lived in one of the most peaceful periods of modern history not so long ago. Today, that trend has reversed.”
From Ukraine to the Middle East, Pavel said the world is experiencing the highest number of state-based conflicts since 1946.
“Confronted with the direct threats from Russian officials against the West and horrified by the slaughter in Ukraine, we have recognized that in the euphoria of newfound freedom after the Cold War, we may have taken European security for granted and our own responsibility too lightly,” said Pavel.
As the former chair of the NATO Military Committee, Pavel specifically addressed actions that NATO must take to aid Ukraine: continue to support Ukraine’s armed forces with weapons and equipment; tighten sanctions against Russia; and place lasting security arrangements in Ukraine once the fighting stops.
“I want to stress American support will remain crucial,” he said. “Europe must shoulder more and that is why American support is not a charity, but a vital investment in our shared security.” The support, he said, is not just through military strength, but also with a unity of purpose. “The alliance of democracies must answer the alliance of autocracies.”
“American support is not a charity, but a vital investment in our shared security.”
Following his address, Pavel further discussed challenges facing NATO and the U.S. involvement in international affairs with professor Grzegorz Ekiert, the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Government at Harvard.
Pavel said he will always defend NATO for bringing 70 countries together to negotiate difficult issues. But, he said, the original 50/50 partnership between the U.S. and Europe has turned into a 75% reliance on the United States.
“Many American leaders—I remember President Bush junior and President Obama—reminded us in Europe to grow up,” said Pavel. “Probably too politely.”
Pavel said he sat next to President Trump at his first NATO summit when Trump said countries not paying their fair share will not be defended. “Everyone was shocked because we were not used to that kind of behavior, but the message behind it was absolutely right,” said Pavel.
“We agreed to spend more, to provide more capabilities, but still the level of reliance on the United States is there,” he continued. “The goal is for Europeans to be able to handle big operations on our own, preferably with Americans on board.”
But, Pavel reiterated, there needs to be a collective responsibility for the future stability of the globalized world, which should include the United States. “Not as a substitute for European security, but as a backstop and anchor of European security, in fact, the security of the whole western world.”
The Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies created the Václav Havel Lecture on Human Rights, Civil Society, and Democracy in 2024 and sponsored this Forum. The lecture series aims to honor Havel's legacy by convening scholars, activists, and leaders to exchange knowledge and ideas with the Harvard community on liberty, human rights, and civic engagement.
The full event is available online.
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Photography by Martha Stewart