Bronislaw GEREMEK (°1932 - 2008)
Profession: Social historian and politician
Nationality: Polish
Why an honorary doctorate?
In 1991, VUB awarded an honorary doctorate to Bronislaw Geremek.
Go and unite
The appreciation of Geremek's contribution to the construction of Europe was great. Bronislaw Geremek showed how free spirits think and act peacefully. His fight for freedom expressed who he was: a man who believed in union rather than separation and considered democracy the ultimate example of good for all.
He was close to Europe and close to his country, Poland. Without prejudice to his love for both.
One for all and all for one. When writer Alexandre Dumas breathed life into his musketeers through words and brought them eternal fame with this statement, he was undeniably making a point of reflection.
With loyalty and brotherhood, the world goes far and beyond. Those who come after us will colour the future. Our Europe must be a realistic fairy tale for young people that guarantees tomorrow's awakening by creating a secure and peaceful framework.
"The future of Europe will be secure if peace and stability touch the lives of young Europeans."
About his career
Democrat praised several times over
This democrat has earned respect both in Europe and in his homeland, Poland.
Traumatic childhood
His father died in Auschwitz, and he himself was smuggled out of Warsaw as a small child.
Come, Communism
06 March 1932. Bronislaw Geremek is born Benjamin Lewertow in Warsaw, Poland. When World War II breaks out, his father sadly loses his life in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Together with his mother, Benjamin is smuggled out of the Warsaw Ghetto. The two find shelter with Stefan Geremek, who later marries his mother and from whom Bronislaw gets his name.
His traumatic past does not stop Geremek from having great ambitions. He goes to university and later on he gets a doctorate. His scholarly work deals with the history of culture and medieval society. He devotes a series of articles, lectures and books to it.
It is 1950 when Geremek joins the Polish Communist Party. He is also assigned the role of second secretary of the party's Basic Party Organisation (POP) at the University of Warsaw. But when the other Warsaw Pact countries invade Czechoslovakia in 1968, he withdraws from the party in protest.
Geremek establishes the Society for Educational Courses and also lectures there himself. It is the 1970s and he is considered one of the leading figures in the Polish opposition. He joins protest movements and is an advisor to the trade union and political party translated as 'Solidarity’. The party succeeds in peacefully pushing the Communist regime into making significant concessions, but the Communist rulers in Moscow are not interested. Under pressure from the Soviet Union, General Jaruzelski declares martial law and bans the 'Solidarity' and other opposition movements.
Geremek is sent to prison for a year It is December 1982 when he is released. He becomes an advisor to the illegal 'Solidarity' and works closely with the later president Lech Walesa. But alas, in 1983 he is arrested again.
Late 1980s Bronislaw Geremek sits on a committee that makes proposals for the peaceful, democratic reform of Poland and plays a central role in the debates between 'Solidarity' and the government. He co-founds the Democratic Union (then the Freedom Union, today the Democratic Party) and is leader of his party from '90 to '97. He also sits on various committees. When a new government is formed in 1997, he becomes Foreign Minister - under Prime Minister Buzek - and signs the NATO Accession Treaty on behalf of his country in March 1999. He later becomes a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament.
For almost his entire career, Geremek works at the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences. That spans from 1955 to 1985. In between, from 1960 to 1965, he teaches at the Paris Sorbonne and is manager of the Polish cultural centre there. Geremek receives many honorary doctorates, from the universities of Bologna (Italy), Utrecht (Netherlands), the Sorbonne (Paris), Columbia University (New York) and a few more.
In the years that follow, Bronislaw Geremek is a visiting professor at the Collège de France, a member of the Academia Europea, the PEN Club, the Société Européenne de Culture, a fellow of Collegium Invisible and more. Until his last breath, he is professor and chairman of the Chair of European Civilisation at the College of Europe.
13 July 2008. Bronislaw Geremek is on his way to Brussels when disaster strikes. He has a car accident before he leaves Poland and dies.
1950: Polish Communist Party
Geremek joins the Polish Communist Party in 1950. He leaves it again when the Warsaw Pact invades Czechoslovakia.
Society for educational course
Leadership and lectures in the Polish opposition.
Solidarity
Peaceful, democratic reform of Poles.
What is an honorary doctorate?
VUB has awarded honorary doctorates every year since 1978 to personalities from the most diverse backgrounds who have made a remarkable contribution to their field and to society. From this solemn moment of recognition, they bear the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of VUB.