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[The European Conservative] Remembering György Schöpflin
The retired academic and politician’s career stands as a testament that a different Europe — that a different West, for that matter — are possible.
A little over a year ago, as a friend and I set about adventuring into the treacherous realm of podcasting, Hungary’s alleged “democratic backsliding” was fast becoming a left-liberal media panic and we looked for a knowledgeable guest to give us the other side of the story. György Schöpflin did more than fit the bill. Though our Zoom call with him didn’t visualize his affable countenance and prominent eyebrows, the retired academic and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) stands out by far as the gentlest, most congenial of the over 70 interviewees our show has featured. Mr. Schöpflin has passed away today at age 82 in Tallinn, where he lived with his Estonian wife. His death is a grievous loss for Hungary, Europe and the conservative movement.
This obituary featured in the winter 2021 issue of The European Conservative. To read the entire piece, subscribe to the magazine here.
