Family Formation and the Future – A Conference on the Geopolitical, Cultural, and Legal Dimensions of Demographic Change – Day 2

The Danube Institute Presents

Family Formation and the Future

The Geopolitical, Cultural, and Legal Dimensions of Demographic Change

Overview

The topic of family and fertility is more vital than ever. As demographic shifts reshape our civilization, public intellectuals, and policymakers are urgently seeking solutions to ensure that family life remains sustainable and free from economic constraints. This is particularly significant in Hungary, where the conservative government’s message is clear: childbearing should not be an economic burden.

Conference Objectives

The goal of the Danube Institute Family Formation conference is to provide a unique international platform for discussing the geopolitical, cultural, and legal dimensions of demographic change. Hungary is pursuing an unparalleled approach worldwide by supporting family formation with innovative economic measures and tax incentives, and it is ready to set an example for the international community in family policy as a pioneer in policy-making.

Key Questions to Explore

• What are the social, cultural, and economic forces driving the decline in fertility rates in developed nations?
• What role should public policy play in strengthening marriage and family formation?
• How can we integrate truth, beauty, and goodness into public life to secure our future?
• How do patterns of migration, urban crime, and legal enforcement affect families and communities?

Additionally, the conference will address the economic challenges hindering family growth—from rising housing and healthcare costs to the burdens on education and childcare—and explore innovative solutions, including tax incentives and labor market reforms, to make family life more accessible and sustainable.

Confirmed Speakers and detailed program

April 2 – Day 2 

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration (Gallery, Level 0)

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

• Balázs Orbán, Political Director to the Hungarian Prime Minister

9:20 AM - 10:45 AM

CRIME, IMMIGRATION, AND THE FAMILY
Crime and immigration policies are deeply intertwined with family stability. This panel will discuss how patterns of migration, urban crime, and legal enforcement affect families and communities. Are current immigration and criminal justice policies helping or hurting families? What reforms could ensure safety, social cohesion, and stronger communities?

• Heather Mac Donald, Fellow, Manhattan Institute
• Mark Krikorian, Executive Director, Center for Immigration Studies
• Theo Wold, Former Deputy Assistant to President Donald Trump
• Daniel Whitehead, Senior Fellow, Hungary Foundation

Moderator:

• Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

COFFEE BREAK

11:00 AM - 12:00

THE ROLE OF AESTHETICS IN PUBLIC LIFE
Beauty is often dismissed as secondary to politics, economics, and policy, yet it plays an essential role in shaping our civilization. This panel will explore how aesthetics influence public life, from architecture to media to personal presentation. Can beauty serve as a unifying force in an era of cultural fragmentation? And what responsibility do artists, thinkers, and policymakers have in fostering an environment that nourishes the soul?

• Jan Bentz, Professor, Oxford
• Anthony O'Hear, Professor, University of Buckingham
• John Noronha, Professor, Pontifical University of Rome

Moderator:

• Ashley Noronha, Professor, Pontifical University of Rome

12:00 - 1:00 PM

LUNCH BREAK 

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 

TECH AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
Technology has transformed how we interact, form relationships, and even understand ourselves. From the decline of in-person community to the rise of digital loneliness, this panel explores the profound effects of the internet and social media on human connection, intimacy, and identity. Our panelists will discuss whether modern technology is eroding essential aspects of human relationships—or simply reshaping them for a new era.

• Mary Harrington, Author, Feminism Against Progress
• Alexandra Kaschuta, Writer, Podcast host, Subversive
• Nina Power, Author, What Do Men Want?
• Francesco Giubilei, Columnist

Moderator:

• Emma Waters, Researcher, The Heritage Foundation

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

COFFEE BREAK

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

REMARKS ON THE SOCIAL WELFARE IN HUNGARY

• Judit Regős, Social Policy Expert; President, Parents' House Foundation

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

THE POLITICAL REALITY OF THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION
Does faith still matter? Are we entering a post-Christian age, or is spiritual renewal on the horizon? Is the Christian tradition still compatible with liberalism? In an increasingly secularized world, all of these questions hang in the balance. This panel will examine the intersection of faith, politics, and culture, exploring how religious traditions and metaphysical commitments influence policy, governance, and individual behavior.

• H. E. Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, Ambassador of Hungary to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta
• Spencer Klavan, Author, Light of the Mind, Light of the World
• Joseph Backholm, Senior Fellow, Family Research Council
• Solene Tadié, Europe Correspondent, EWTN

Moderator:

• Jonathan Price, Matraszek Fellow, Pusey House & St. Cross College, Oxford; Visiting Fellow, Danube Institute

4:30 PM

ECONOMICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS

• Philip Pilkington, Visiting Fellow, Danube Institute

4:45 PM

CLOSING REMARKS

• Helen Roy, Author, Fairer Disputations, Budapest Fellow
• Melissa O’Sullivan, Deputy Director, Danube Institute

Details

Date: April 1–2, 2025
Venue: Lónyay-Hatvany Villa, 1 Csónak Street, 1015 Budapest
(Entrance: Aranybástya Restaurant)
Registration: from 8.30 am
Language: English

Participation is free; however, due to limited seating, pre-registration is required.

We reserve the right to modify the program.

Join us, and be part of shaping a future where families thrive and the foundation of our civilization is rebuilt on the values of truth, hope, and creative resilience!