Václav Havel, writer, thinker, dissident: events to mark the 90th anniversary of his birth
Introduction
Writer, playwright, essayist and an iconic figure of Czechoslovak dissidence, Václav Havel (1936–2011) left a profound mark on 20th-century European intellectual and political history. A key figure in the Velvet Revolution of 1989, who went on to become President of Czechoslovakia and later of the Czech Republic, he remains an essential reference point in the defence of democracy and human rights.
Whilst his political commitment is widely recognised, his literary and intellectual work, as well as the international reach of his thinking, remain relatively unexplored in the context of academic conferences in France.
To mark the 90th anniversary of his birth, this event offers an opportunity to rediscover the many facets of his legacy through three main themes: his political career, from dissidence to the presidency; his literary and artistic output; and the influence of his thinking on resistance and opposition movements in China and Latin America.
The event will also open with a report on the study trip ‘In the Footsteps of Václav Havel’, organised in Prague in June 2026 with students of Czech from Inalco University and Sorbonne University. An opportunity to highlight the passing on of this legacy to new generations.
Programme
10.30 am | Opening of the event
- Hubert Bazin, President of the Inalco Foundation: welcome address to participants
- Étienne Boisserie, Director of the Centre for Research on Europe and Eurasia (CREE): opening of the day
10.45 am – 11.30 am | In the footsteps of Havel: Czech language students present their trip to Prague
Presentation: Alena Kotšmídová (CREE, Inalco)
With the participation of students from Inalco and Sorbonne University who took part in the study trip to Prague from 3 to 6 June 2026: presentation of the trip, review of the meetings and visits, and future prospects.
11.30 am | Coffee break
11.45 am – 1.15 pm | Session 1: Havel’s political work, from dissidence to the presidency
Session in English
Presenter: Jana Vargovčíková (CREE, Inalco)
With the participation of:
- Kristina Andělová, research fellow in history, Institute of Contemporary History, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague
- Jacques Rupnik, Emeritus Research Director, CERI, Sciences Po Paris/CNRS
1.15 pm – 2.30 pm | Lunch
2.30 pm – 4.00 pm | Session 2: Havel the writer, playwright, poet… and filmmaker
With the participation of:
- Katia Hala, artist, author, Sorbonne University
- Jana Kantoříková, Senior Lecturer in Czech Studies – Cultural History, Eur’Orbem, Sorbonne University
- Catherine Servant, Professor of Czech Language and Literature, Head of Czech Studies, CREE, Inalco
4.00 pm | Coffee break
4.15 pm – 5.45 pm | Session 3: In the footsteps of Václav Havel in the resistance and opposition movements in China and Latin America
Presented by: Étienne Boisserie (CREE, Inalco)
With the participation of:
- Jean-Philippe Béja, Emeritus Research Director at the CNRS, CERI, Sciences Po Paris/CNRS
- Marie-Laure Geoffray, senior lecturer in political science, Institute for Advanced Studies on Latin America (IHEAL), Sorbonne Nouvelle University
5.45 pm – 6.15 pm | End of the day
- Delphine Allès, Acting Director of Inalco University
6.15 pm – 7.30 pm | Cocktail reception
Organisation
This event is organised by Catherine Servant and Jana Vargovčíková, from the Europes-Eurasia Research Centre (CREE) – Czech Studies at Inalco.
Scientific committee: Étienne Boisserie (Inalco), Xavier Galmiche (Sorbonne University), Jiří Hnilica (historian), Jana Kantoříková (Sorbonne University), Alena Kotšmídová (Inalco), Françoise Mayer (University of Montpellier), Catherine Servant (Inalco), Ivan Šmilauer (Inalco) and Jana Vargovčíková (Inalco).
Academic event funded by the Inalco University Scientific Committee.
