ENGELS: CURRENT IDEOLOGY CANNOT PROVIDE FOUNDATIONS FOR SURVIVAL OF EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA/ - Europe must find an answer to the question of what it is today; otherwise, European civilization could be lost, said Belgian professor David Engels, author of the book Defending Europe as a Civilization.

On the eve of his lecture "Ideology and Politics in Contemporary Europe" at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, Engels told reporters that his works are also a search for this answer. "There is reason for hope, as a significant number of people realize that the current European ideology, which relies on nihilism and other negative currents, cannot provide European civilization with the foundations for survival. Other answers to these questions must be sought," Engels emphasized. Professor Vlade Simović of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka stated that Engels, in this lecture, offers a different perspective on Europe compared to what the old continent is today, what it has been, and what it could become. "We are pleased to hear what identity in Europe means today, what its policies are, and how the old continent will confront the many challenges of the future," Simović said. He believes that, in this context, it is important to consider how all of this will affect the local region. "It is important that, based on Professor Engels' experiences, we in Republika Srpska better understand the European space and act accordingly," Simović said. The director of the Republika Srpska Center for Socio-Political Research, Dušan Pavlović, stated that Engels is one of the most recognized experts on the future of Western Europe, particularly as a civilization. He said that Engels addresses the situation in contemporary Western Europe, analyzes the causes of its crisis, and proposes long-term solutions. "From these and similar experiences, the Serbian people can learn a great deal," Pavlović said. The lecture, attended by numerous students, was organized by the Republika Srpska Center for Socio-Political Research in cooperation with the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, on the occasion of the publication and promotion of the Serbian translation of Engels’ book. A promotion and discussion of Professor Engels’ book will be held tomorrow at the Republika Srpska Academy of Sciences and Arts, with representatives of the Republika Srpska academic community and institutions expected to attend. Professor David Engels completed his undergraduate studies in history, philosophy, and economics, earned a master’s degree in philosophy, and received his doctorate in ancient history from the University of Aachen in Germany. He has worked as a history professor at universities in Germany, Belgium, Poland, and France. He is also known for his criticism of the West, which he presents as a form of self-reflection on European life and thought. He sees the solution in returning to the authentic, centuries-old practices and virtues of European society as a whole, which is the main guiding idea of his book.