Lecture by Academician Rusmir Mahmutćehajić upon the occasion the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina
An open public lecture by Academician Rusmir Mahmutćehajić on the topic “The Future of the State and Political Responsibility”, was held in the University of Sarajevo celebrated Rectorate Hall on 25 February 2020 to celebrate 1 March - Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The opening address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, University of Sarajevo Rector, stressing that 1 March is a day of pride and determination, the day when Bosnians of all nationalities decided to be a sovereign, independent, independent and complete Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal peoples and citizens.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's state independence reflects the loftiest ideal of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Awareness of the ideal, which is never the same as reality, gives a sense of responsibility of the individual and society to himself and others. This requires everyone to be responsible for changing reality in relation to the ideal. When that ideal ceases to be clear and appealing, confusion and loss, fears and anxieties arise. How to make the Bosnian ideal clear and convincing? How can this ideal hold people accountable for themselves and their future? How to make it a reason to believe in Bosnia and Herzegovina's future and build it? Academician Rusmir Mahmutćehajić spoke about these and other issues of Bosnia and Herzegovina now and tomorrow as part of a lecture on “The future of the state and political responsibility.”
Academician Rusmir Mahmutćehajić believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina and its society have no disadvantage that would prevent it from becoming a state whose citizens will be proud of it in the world community of states, a state that will be a space where individual and collective rights will be realized in within the framework of constitutional democracy.
“A large number of our people, feeling insecure, think they can find a solution outside this country. For many, this departure seems like proof against the state of affairs in this country, but it is not. These departing people belong to this country, more and more they will want to escape from it. There is a need to build a framework here - the inviolability of life, liberty, the right to happiness and oaths that will appeal to these people again” said academician Mahmutćehajić. He stresses that these people have enormous potential today, adding that this is their country and that they cannot escape from it as much as they want to escape.
“It needs to be opened wide open, and we have a duty not to create here the anxiety that drives people away. We must preserve this country, defend it. This is a different way of defending today, first of all, by understanding the circumstances we are in, by speaking publicly and freely” said Academician Mahmutćehajić.
Rusmir Mahmutćehajić is a scientist, philosopher, writer and politician who has gained a reputation in the country and abroad. He is a direct witness and participant in the most dramatic events in advocating, realizing and defending BiH's state sovereignty. He became involved in this endeavor with the status of a recognized scientist and intellectual. In the war against Bosnia and shortly before, he served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President of the Social Affairs Council, the Vice President of the Referendum Commission on State Independence, and the Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the war, he continued his efforts in several academic fields - political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of science, Bosnian social plurality and others. His works have been published in the country and in the world. He has lectured on various issues relevant to the contemporary world and the place of Bosnia in it around the world.
Rusmir Mahmutćehajić is a member of the editorial board of Philosophy of Religion and World Religion Brill, one of the world's most respected publishers, and a member of the Royal Institute of Islamic Thought in Jordan. For his contributions to science, he was honored by King Abdullah II of the Jordan First Class Star (wisām al-kawkab al-urdunī min al-daraja al-ūlā). Prior to that, he received the Sixth of April Award with Francis R. Jones and Dževad Hozo for the bibliographic edition of the book Stone Sleeper, and the annual Light Prize for prose published in the journal Life. The Governing Body of the International Committee for Large Electrical Systems awarded him the status of Honorary Member for long-term cooperation in the international CIGRE.
