Andras Simony
András Simonyi (16 May 1952) is the managing director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC. He was the Hungarian ambassador to the United States between 2002 and 2007.
Professional Career[edit]
After university, Simonyi worked with many youth exchange programs, in particular the State Committee for Youth and the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), a "frontline" organization speaking out against the imperialist practices of capitalst countries and of NATO, but with a special interest in forging ties between youth organizations of the East and the West, a result of détente, to span from nato to Eastern Bloc countries. This work brought him into contact with the American Council of Young Political Leaders. From 1984 to 1989 he worked for the Socialist Workers Party in Hungary in the foreign relations department. András Simonyi is curently the Managing Director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. He has a long professional career in multilateral and bilateral diplomacy, international non-governmental and governmental organizations, as well as in the private sector. His focus has been the transatlantic relationship. He has held some of the highest positions in the Hungarian diplomatic service. He is a proponent of soft-power in international affairs. He advocates a strong transatlantic relationship to which he does not see an alternative for the foreseeable future. He is a proponent of innovation in diplomatic activities, combining tradition with new radical ideas. In November 2010, Ambassador Simonyi began his tour of American university and college centers. He focused his lectures on building transatlantic relationships through innovation. At his visit with Ohio University Global Leadership Center undergraduates, Simonyi described a situation where the world has, as a positive thing, become affixed to ideas based in American innovation. He warned that the day "a Facebook or prominent innovation" comes "from Beijing rather than America" will be the day the West knows it has allowed itself to slow. Simonyi was honored by Ohio University students and faculty for his contributions to international diplomacy.
Education[edit]
SImonyi graduated from the Karl Marx University of Economics, which is now called the Budapest Corvinus University, in 1975. He holds a PhD in political science and wrote his disseratation on Denmark's security policy in the 20th Century.
Further Information[edit]
A Lecture by Andras Simonyi- "The Language of Art and Music"
