The “Miladin Životić” Award for Critical Engagement was presented in Belgrade to Joseph Stiglitz, a professor at Columbia University and Nobel laureate in economics. The award is granted by the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory to individuals whose work has a lasting and visible impact on the development of critical thought, democratic practices, and social responsibility.
The formal award ceremony took place on December 13, 2025, at the Cultural Centre of Belgrade. The event highlighted the importance of preserving university autonomy at a time when academic institutions worldwide face increasing political and institutional pressures aimed at narrowing the space for critical thinking and public action.
According to the Institute’s director, Gazela Pudar Draško: “We gather at a moment that is not easy for universities on a global level… In such a context, the very act of gathering at an event like this – organized by our institute, which has the honor of functioning as a hub for intellectual exchange capable of transcending borders and acting internationally – already represents an expression of perseverance, shared responsibility, and solidarity beyond national frameworks.”
Following the ceremony, Professor Stiglitz delivered a public lecture titled “Freedom, the Academic Community, and Social and Economic Progress,” in which he defined freedom as a prerequisite for the full realization of human potential and a core mission of the university. “At the university, we are, in an essential sense, dedicated to strengthening the freedom of our students,” Stiglitz emphasized, linking education, knowledge, and the social responsibility of academic institutions.
Speaking on contemporary social processes, the laureate also reflected on the role of students in Serbia, stating:
“Your students here in Serbia provide such a powerful example of what students can do – by resisting and thinking for themselves. That was one of the reasons I enthusiastically accepted the invitation to come to Serbia to support this student movement, as it is one of the few places in global society where one sees strong resistance to authoritarian power.”
In addition to the central ceremony, Professor Stiglitz’s visit included a scientific seminar at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory. The Institute also hosted Anya Schiffrin, a lecturer at Columbia University, who gave a presentation on the topic “Media Capture and Freedom in the Era of Trump.”
The event drew exceptional public attention, with a media reach estimated at nearly 800,000 people. This further confirmed the role of the university as a vital space for critical knowledge and social responsibility, without which a democratic society cannot exist.
Photo source: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory & Akademska knjiga
