Masaryk Democratic Movement

The Masaryk Democratic Movement (Czech: Masarykovo demokratické hnutí, MDH) is a Czech voluntary association founded in November 1989, at the time of the Velvet Revolution, with the direct participation of Václav Havel, Alexander Dubček, and Emil Ludvík, one of the last secretaries of President Edvard Beneš. Its founding document, the "MDH Declaration," was drafted primarily by Emil Ludvík and signed by Havel and Dubček. The movement's core mission is to embed the ethical, moral, and humanistic ideas of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, into the newly emerging democratic society. It is a non-political civic association, registered as a spolek (association) under the Czech Civil Code of 2012. The MDH engages in a wide range of activities: lectures, exhibitions, educational programs, publishing, and public events. It has organized major exhibitions such as "Herbert Masaryk" and "T. G. Masaryk – Man and Art" in Prague, which each attracted around 50,000 visitors, opened by President Václav Havel in 1993 and 1995. The movement also runs an annual competition for primary and secondary schools about T. G. Masaryk, now in its twelfth year as of 2018–2019. It publishes the magazine ČAS, originally founded by Jan Herben with Masaryk's support in 1886, and has issued numerous books related to Masaryk and his circle. Headquartered at Na Příkopě 852/10 in Prague 1 since its founding, the MDH has attracted honorary members including world figures such as George H. W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Chaim Herzog, and François Mitterrand in 1990. Later, President George W. Bush accepted the MDH's "T. G. Masaryk Honorary Medal." The movement collaborates with other democratic organizations and continues its educational and cultural activities, maintaining a website at masarykovohnuti.cz.

The Masaryk Democratic Movement was founded in November 1989, during the Velvet Revolution, when Václav Havel, Alexander Dubček, and Emil Ludvík signed a declaration establishing the movement. The founding assembly took place on 24 May 1990 in the large hall of the Sylva-Taroucca Palace (then the Education Club at Na Příkopě 10 in Prague), with the participation of founding members, media, and prominent figures. Emil Ludvík was elected chairman. The headquarters and secretariat have been located at Na Příkopě 852/10, Prague 1, since then. In 1990, many world figures accepted honorary membership, including George H. W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Chaim Herzog, and François Mitterrand. On 19 December 1990, the President of the United States thanked the MDH presidency with personal letters in Czech and English. Ten years later, President George W. Bush accepted the "T. G. Masaryk Honorary Medal" from the MDH. Czech honorary members in 1990 included Rafael Kubelík, Rudolf Firkušný, Anna Masaryková, Herberta Masaryková, Vlasta Chramostová, Cardinal František Tomášek, Radim Palouš, Alexander Dubček, and Václav Havel. Prince Karel Schwarzenberg and Jiří Dienstbier Sr. were active members from the beginning. In 1993 and 1995, President Václav Havel opened two major exhibitions organized by the MDH in Prague on Národní třída, each attended by about 50,000 visitors: "Herbert Masaryk" and "T. G. Masaryk – Man and Art." Masaryk's granddaughters, Anna and Herberta, collaborated intensively with the exhibition committee and lent exhibits. The exhibitions were accompanied by evening events with writers, actors, and artists. The MDH also began publishing books from Masaryk's circle. From 1990 to 1998, MDH board members participated in four national conferences co-organized with the European Movement in the Czech Republic, Charles University, and Masaryk University, titled "European Values of Democracy and Education after the Experience with Totalitarianism." Cultural evenings were held at the Kolowrat Theatre in cooperation with the National Theatre in Prague. On 21 December 1998, a program for the 80th anniversary of Masaryk's arrival in Prague featured Jiří Suchý and Jitka Molavcová. The MDH also participated in an international conference on the 100th anniversary of the Hilsner affair in Polná, held under the auspices of the Jewish Museum in Prague at Charles University on 24–26 November 1999. The movement restored the magazine ČAS, originally founded by Jan Herben with Masaryk's support in 1886, and used other dailies such as Lidová demokracie. Lecture, publishing, and educational activities began, including lectures on Masaryk's life and work at secondary schools from 1990. Since 1993, these cultural events have been documented in ČAS. In the early 1990s, MDH events frequently appeared in media, including radio and television, with support from Václav Havel and other representatives who became members, such as Chancellor Karel Schwarzenberg, ministers Pavel Klener, Milan Adam, Jiří Dienstbier, Josef Lux, Antonín Baudyš, and others. The movement continues its activities, including an annual competition for schools, now in its twelfth year as of 2018–2019.

• 2018

  Twelfth year of the competition (2018–2019).

• 2007

  First year of the annual competition about T. G. Masaryk for primary and secondary schools.

• 2000

  President George W. Bush accepts the 'T. G. Masaryk Honorary Medal' from MDH.

• 1999

  Participated in international conference on the 100th anniversary of the Hilsner affair at Charles University.

• 1998

  Program for the 80th anniversary of Masaryk's arrival in Prague, featuring Jiří Suchý and Jitka Molavcová.

• 1995

  Exhibition 'T. G. Masaryk – Man and Art' opened by President Václav Havel, attended by about 50,000 visitors.

• 1993

  Exhibition 'Herbert Masaryk' opened by President Václav Havel, attended by about 50,000 visitors.

• 1990

  Founding assembly held on 24 May 1990; Emil Ludvík elected chairman. Many world figures accept honorary membership.

• 1990

  U.S. President George H. W. Bush thanks MDH with personal letters on 19 December 1990.

• 1989

  Founded in November 1989 with the signing of the MDH Declaration by Václav Havel, Alexander Dubček, and Emil Ludvík.

Non-political civic association dedicated to promoting the democratic and humanistic legacy of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

• Magazine ČAS

  Restored magazine originally founded by Jan Herben in 1886 with Masaryk's support.

• Annual competition about T. G. Masaryk

  Competition for primary and secondary schools, held annually since 2007.

• Exhibitions

  Major exhibitions such as 'Herbert Masaryk' (1993), 'T. G. Masaryk – Man and Art' (1995), 'Republika 100', and traveling exhibitions.

• Publications

  Books from Masaryk's circle, including works by Karel Čapek, Emil Ludwig, and others.

1. 1Masarykovo demokratické hnutí official websitemasarykovohnuti.cz
2. 2Wikidata entrywikidata.org
3. 3Czech Wikipedia articlecs.wikipedia.org