The western Hungarian city of Győr hosted the 2025 conference of the World Union of Freethinkers. The conference’s central theme was the looming return of war and fascism 80 years after liberation. The keynote presentations sparked intense discussions, likely due in part to the participants’ rich backgrounds in life and political experience, which were shared in the lively exchange. The key takeaways from these discussions culminated in the adoption of a conference resolution.
The conference was preceded by a meeting of the Executive Bureau and the International Council. In addition to various administrative matters, the agenda included the delegates’ reports, the approval of the accountability reports, and the appointment of the Executive Committee. The existing composition of the committee was confirmed, with Klaus Hartmann (President), Jean-Marie Jacoby (General Secretary), and Peter Berger (Treasurer), as well as the other members without a fixed function: Fabienne Cartreaux, Samira Jouini, and Vladimir Kršljanin. The participants observed a minute of silence in memory of Comrade Christopher Black, a member of the Executive Committee who passed away unexpectedly in June.
Klaus Hartmann addressed the rampant historical revisionism, which manifested itself in an intolerable degree of historical distortion, particularly during numerous events commemorating the 80th anniversary. Klaus Hartmann’s presentation will be posted here shortly.
Despite NATO’s constant war rhetoric, Luxembourg’s Jean-Marie Jacoby sees the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a paper tiger that, while devouring vast amounts of taxpayers’ money, ultimately had to flee even from soldiers in sandals in Afghanistan, despite its expensive arsenal. Both the war in Ukraine and the failure of Israel’s air defenses have demonstrated that imperialism is no longer in control militarily. The privately organized arms industry in the West focuses on profit margins, not military efficiency. While this might appease the civilian populations of Russia or China, it certainly doesn’t apply to Europe. NATO’s weapons, which are not suitable for combat, are more than sufficient to suppress strikes and popular uprisings at home. The procurement programs initiated by the armies already indicate that the elites are preparing more for war against their own populations than for war with Russia. This, coupled with the ongoing fascization of Western Europe, constitutes the true danger posed by NATO and the EU.
→ The full text of Jean-Marie Jacoby’s presentation
As Elke Zwinge-Makamizile emphasized in her presentation, BRICS is a dynamically driving force in the process of diverse, multipolar development. With its current 10 full members and 10 partner countries, BRICS already represents 56 percent of the world’s population, which accounts for 44 percent of the global economy. This dynamism is a testament to the existence of emancipatory predecessor organizations, especially the Non-Aligned Movement and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. At the very beginning of this development, however, was the Great October Revolution, which served as a catalyst for the uprising of the colonized peoples of the Global South. With the rise of a multipolar world, the forces for peace through development and cooperation instead of confrontation are growing. The economic weight of BRICS, with China as its strongest economy, benefits not only China itself but also the countries of the Global South. In contrast, the US/NATO West stands with its debt, warmongering, lack of vision, and cultural impoverishment – in short, a sinking, futureless project. However, even within the collective West, counterforces are growing that must be considered an active part of the multipolar world.
→ To the presentation by Elke Zwinge-Makamizile
“Liberal democracy is suffering from anemia and atrophy. Parliaments hardly play a role anymore as a counterweight to the executive branch.” This is the analysis of Armand Clesse from Luxembourg, who was unable to deliver his presentation himself due to a last-minute hospital stay. Social thought and life are shaped by “doctrines that present themselves as open and liberal, but are authoritarian at their core with a tendency toward totalitarianism.” But how important is freedom to people really when it comes to weighing freedom against other goods, such as prosperity or security? People strive for autonomy and self-determination, but many are also prepared to forgo such values in favor of other goods. For society, it is therefore crucial to find the “golden mean” between complete individual freedom on the one hand and responsibility for the community on the other, between chaos and despotism.
→ to the full presentation by Armand Clesse
On the topic of “Defending Neutrality and Sovereignty,” Peter Berger reported on the growing resistance against the erosion of neutrality in Switzerland. The country’s sovereignty is under massive pressure from both the European Union and NATO. A popular initiative now aims to make neutrality legally binding for Switzerland through a new constitutional article. This would also prohibit the country from imposing sanctions that violate international law. At the same time, a fierce debate is looming over a new framework agreement with the EU, which would place Switzerland under a form of EU control and curtail its direct democratic rights.
→ to Peter Berger’s remarks
The conference participants took advantage of their stay in Hungary to explore the attractive city center of Győr on a walking tour. Its spacious pedestrian zone was perfect for strolling in the cooler evening hours. The old town still exudes much of the atmosphere of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and boasts a remarkable collection of historical buildings from that era. With approximately 130,000 inhabitants and a significant machinery, textile, and commercial vehicle industry, the city serves as a metropolitan center in western Hungary.
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→ Resolution of the conference: Block the way for war and fascism!
→ NATO: A taxpayer-money-guzzling behemoth – a paper tiger, but capable of nuclear suicide?
→ The BRICS countries – engine of multipolar development
