Event Highlight: Helsinki Final Act at 50
This news story was written by BU student Daniel Malecki for his Introduction to Communication Writing COM CO 201 course.
The Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies’ Center for the Study of Europe organized a panel discussion titled “Helsinki Final Act at 50, Relevant or Relic.” This discussion took place on September 18th and was moderated by Professor Vesko Garčević of BU.
The panel featured Igor Lukes, a former BU international relations professor, Douglas Wake, a former U.S. diplomat and OSCE official, and Ida Manton, an international relations scholar. These panelists talked about the history of the Helsinki Final Act as well as its relevance to the world today.
“As far as the topic, it’s one that I’ve been working on on and off both as an American diplomat and as an OSCE official for nearly forty years in various roles,” Wake said.
Having worked as a senior U.S. diplomat and for the OSCE, Wake wanted to share his experience, as much of his work has been about the lasting effects of Helsinki. The OSCE was a byproduct of the Helsinki Final Act.
Lukes is an expert on the Cold War Era. He has written multiple books on the subject. He taught international relations at Boston University for 37 years. He began the discussion by giving an overview of the history of the Helsinki Final Act.
The Helsinki Final Act was signed in 1975. It was “a triumph of unexpected consequences,” said Lukes. “The metaphysical component actually proved to be more important than the material gains the Soviets got.”
Lukes said that the most significant and decisive part of the Helsinki Final Act was not giving the USSR what they wanted in land and power. It was having regard for and enforcing the protection of human rights in Europe.
“Helsinki lays out how security at the political military level is absolutely intertwined with economic prosperity, environmental protection, human rights, democracy, and non-discrimination,” said Wake.
Wake said that it’s important to continue to study the Helsinki Final Act despite its age because of the groundwork it sets for human welfare across the globe. The issues covered in the Helsinki Final Act are relevant to modern issues regarding human rights, democracy, and fundamental freedom.
“Russia’s signature remains, it still is binding on Russia,” said Lukes. “The United States government, or any other of the signatories of Helsinki, have standing, which is the right officially to point out that Russia is in violation of its commitments.”
Lukes said that Russia is still committed to the clauses of Helsinki, and that gives the West the right to call out Russia for violating the agreement. Since Helsinki is still a binding agreement, this right unites the West in their efforts against Russia.
“Whether you’re an American citizen or from another country, what happens in Europe and the United States affects global security, and they’ll want to live in a world that’s more peaceful,” said Wake.
Wake talked about the significance of the U.S. and Europe when it comes to global matters because of the influence that they have on the world. The U.S. and Europe not only influence politics but they set a standard for global security and peace around the world.
“Europe owes its richness to countless contributions from other regions of the world,” said Garčević, “and its complex heritage can only be understood in relation to other sites of socio-cultural production, political engagement, and economic transformation.”
Garčević said that Europe is influenced by other countries. Since Europe is involved in global affairs, it is important to understand the influence of other countries on Europe.
Topics such as the Helsinki Final Act play a significant role in understanding international relations today, said Garčević. The Center for the Study of Europe offers events like this to further educate students on international relations in Europe and how it affects the rest of the world.
“The mission of the Center for the Study of Europe is to promote the critical understanding of Europe through its cultural heritage, its political, economic, and religious histories, its laws, its art, literature, music, and philosophy,” said Garčević.
The Center for the Study of Europe hosts events such as this discussion to provide a well-rounded and holistic education of Europe. They achieve this by teaching all aspects of European life, culture, and politics.
The center will continue to host similar events throughout the year. “This school year, we will host five events about the Middle East and Europe,” said Garčević.
Sources:
Douglas Wake
Former Senior US diplomat and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Official
Igor Lukes
Former Boston University Professor of History and International Relations Emeritus at the Pardee School of Global Studies
Vesko Garčević
Professor of the Practice of International Relations; Director of the Center for the Study of Europe