In their article, Ayan Musil and Şar explore a question that challenges conventional political thinking: Why did broad opposition coalitions fail to unseat long-ruling governments in Hungary and Turkey, while later single opposition parties achieved significant electoral success?

Drawing on the cases of Hungary and Turkey, the authors examine how coalition dynamics, party organization, and differing political environments shaped electoral outcomes. Their findings contribute to ongoing discussions about democracy, opposition strategy, and political competition in contemporary Europe.

Read the full article in the Journal of Democracy here.

In his first review, Ozuna explores , a major retrospective of internationally acclaimed South African artist William Kentridge, whose multidisciplinary works combine theatre, performance, dance, music, and film while exploring migration, racism, and Europe’s complex social history.

He also notes that the exhibition is “practically a retrospective,” bringing together Kentridge’s earliest works with more recent creations connected by these recurring themes.

The exhibition is curated by Christelle Havranek, who also teaches in AAU’s Visual Art Studies program. Ozuna highlights the exhibition’s conclusion with “a recreation of his studio and a coda – site-specific tribute to his garden as his most personal muse.”

View the exhibition at , around the corner from the AAU Campus. Read his review from Kulturní magazín UNI in Czech here.

In his second review, Ozuna examines , an exhibition exploring how newspapers, magazines, and other forms of mass media have shaped artists and artistic expression for generations.

He notes that the exhibition begins with the rise of affordable printing in the nineteenth century, when newspapers, books, and magazines transformed information from something available only to the aristocracy into a shared public experience.

The exhibition explores how artists have responded to the rise of newspapers, magazines, and mass media, examining the relationship between art, communication, and the news over the past 150 years.

View the exhibition at the in Holešovice. Read his review from Kulturní magazín UNI in Czech .

Photos: Courtesy of Kunsthalle Praha, Tomáš Cindr, and Jan Slavík

According to Hays, the shift from print and broadcast media to social media and generative AI has accelerated the creation of increasingly individualized “social realities,” making it more difficult for people to engage with one another through a shared understanding of facts and experiences.

Despite these challenges, Hays emphasizes that the future is not predetermined. Because social reality is continually created and re-created, he argues that individuals can help strengthen communities by building genuine relationships and engaging with people beyond algorithm-driven online spaces.

Drawing on history, philosophy, and contemporary society, Hays ultimately encourages readers to reconnect through real-world dialogue and community rather than retreat into increasingly personalized digital echo chambers.

Read the full commentary in Czech .

According to Švejdarová, studying abroad is no longer an opportunity reserved for a select few. Instead, it is an investment that helps students build confidence, broaden their perspectives, and develop the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly global world.

Švejdarová also emphasized that the greatest value of studying abroad extends far beyond academics.

At AAU, students can broaden their horizons through Erasmus+ and international exchange programs, earning credit toward their degree while studying at partner universities across Europe and around the world. Whether spending a full semester abroad or joining a short-term program, students gain new perspectives, firsthand cultural experiences, and an international network that extends far beyond the classroom.

Read the full interview in Czech here.

Babík talked about leaving Prague to study in Massachusetts on a scholarship in the 1990s at age 16 with all of the language barrier and challenges of being isolated from your native culture. He eventually settled down in the US to pursue an academic career.

Spending so long in the US, Babík said he lost his Czech but re-learned it through teaching his children and raising them in Czech. Babík compared his high school in the US to Czech education and adapting to life back in the Czech republic when moving to Prague a year ago.

Teaching at AAU, Babík gets a taste of being back in the US not only because of the English-language curriculum, but because of the experiential education and pedagogy driven by individual motivation and interests.

Babík also discussed democracy and society, comparing the American and Czech systems. He highlighted the tensions between the US and Europe related to security and economics but also compared the political polarization both regions are facing.

Prague has a long history of strong civil society, and Babík believes that when each of us act in small ways it also breeds hope:

Listen to the full podcast .

Photo: Kateřina Cibulka, Czech Radio

The new study by economist Petr Bartoň demonstrates how, based on experience with tendering and lowest-price evaluation, to proceed in a way that truly fulfills the tender’s objective of finding the lowest price.

Read the full study in Czech here.

Česko (a i celá Evropa) potřebuje dostavět D35, druhou dálniční osu mezi východem a západem kontinentu na výpomoc chronicky přetížené D1. V souladu s vládním programem má být výstavba a provoz zadány v režimu PPP. Nyní jsou vyhodnocovány soutěžní nabídky v tendru, který má určit soutěžitele s nejnižší nabízenou cenou. Podle dostupných zdrojů se zdá, že hodnotitel za cenu projektu považuje diskontovanou sumu budoucích plateb, které byly odevzdány v projektech. Ta však skutečnou cenu neměří, a tak hrozí, že vyhodnocení nesplní zadání “najít nejnižší cenu”, a soudní průtahy mohou celý hospodářsky klíčový proces zpomalit.

Nová studie ekonoma Petra Bartoňa ukazuje, jak na základě zkušeností se zadáváním tendrů a vyhodnocování nejnižší ceny postupovat tak, aby bylo skutečně splněno zadání tendru, nalézt nejnižší cenu.

Celou studii si můžete přečíst zde.

According to Sahatqija, students are drawn to Prague because it offers the experience of living in a major European capital while remaining welcoming and easy to navigate.

At AAU, students study in English while joining an international community representing more than 80 nationalities. As Sahatqija explains, the experience extends far beyond the classroom, with Prague itself becoming an important part of students’ academic and personal growth.

Read the full article in Czech on .

The program featured lectures by (Texas Tech University), (Florida State University), (Wabash College), (Anglo-American University), (Singapore Management University), and (Singapore Management University). Each lecture was followed by extended group discussions and Q&A sessions, giving participants the opportunity to debate ideas, ask questions, and engage with faculty and fellow students.

Throughout the week, participants explored topics including socialism and economic calculation, capitalism, liberty, the role of the state, the transition from centrally planned economies to free markets, democracy, rights, and immigration and freedom.

Beyond the classroom, students experienced Prague through a walking tour of the city, a history tour on totalitarianism in Prague, and a visit to the Museum of Communism, connecting academic discussions with the Czech Republic’s political and historical development.

By bringing together students and faculty from across the United States and Europe, the program reflected AAU’s commitment to international dialogue, critical inquiry, and experiential learning in the heart of Prague.

As part of the partnership, AAU will host selected Climate Week Prague events on campus, bringing discussions on sustainability and environmental responsibility directly to our university community.

The collaboration will also create new opportunities for AAU students beyond the classroom. Climate Week Prague will offer internship opportunities, allowing students to gain practical experience while contributing to climate action projects, focused on sustainability and social impact. Students and student groups will also have the opportunity to present sustainability-focused projects as part of the Climate Week Prague program. 

The partnership reflects AAU’s commitment to connecting academic learning with real-world challenges. AAU seeks not only to prepare successful professionals, but also to encourage active citizenship and meaningful contributions to society. Through Climate Week Prague, students will have opportunities to engage with professionals from academia, government, business, nonprofits, and local communities and contribute to conversations on sustainability and climate-related issues.

Those interested in learning more can explore , featuring events and workshops focused on climate action leadership and sustainability project ideas. Additional information about specific events, internship opportunities, and student participation at AAU will be announced in the coming months.

Join AAU and Climate Week Prague this September!

The four-day event, held from July 7–10 in Riga, Latvia, brought together young entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries. University teams presented their businesses on stage, exhibited their concepts to participants and industry representatives, and attended workshops, company visits, networking events, and the Gen-E Gala Awards Dinner.  

Representing AAU and Czechia was , a community-driven safety app created to provide safer routes and real-time support for women and members of the queer community in Prague. The team was comprised of AAU students Shania Rodriguez, Neha Pande, Abigail Witbeck, and Liza Potts. 

They were also mentored by Heinrich Homola, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who guided the team not only throughout the Gen-E finals in Riga, but throughout the entire entrepreneurial journey, from developing their initial concept to representing Czechia on the European stage.

The AAU team presented SOLACE on the Gen-E main stage before an audience of approximately 1,000 students, educators, investors, and entrepreneurship leaders from across Europe. Beyond the stage presentation, the team also showcased SOLACE during the international startup exhibition, where they connected with fellow student entrepreneurs, judges, and industry professionals while exchanging ideas with teams from across Europe.

The experience offered students an opportunity to test their venture in an international environment while gaining valuable feedback and expanding their professional network.

In addition to the competition itself, university participants attended company visits with innovative Latvian businesses, networking events, and professional development sessions designed to expose students to different entrepreneurial ecosystems. The event also allowed students to see how startup ideas from across Europe approach social challenges, emerging technologies, sustainability, and business innovation.

The recent success demonstrates the impact of AAU’s project-based, experiential approach to entrepreneurship. Students with an innovative idea and the ambition to turn it into a real venture can explore the Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration and take the first step toward developing their own startup.

Read more about AAU’s participation in the JA Czech and JA Europe competitions: