The Mosse Lectures seek to confront daunting, contemporary socio-economic, geo-political, and environmental challenges by creating opportunities for the free exchange and development of fresh ideas. They aim to popularize new and creative approaches to the most pressing problems of our time, including, but not limited to: the re-emergence of authoritarian forms of government, the challenges associated with rapid technological advancement, climate change, political polarization, and socio-economic inequality.
The spirit of these Lectures is firmly rooted in the Mosse family tradition. In the late nineteenth century, Rudolf Mosse, George and Hilde’s (George’s sister) grandfather, established an international publishing and advertising empire in Berlin that his family used to aggressively oppose the rise of Nazism. As a result, the Mosse family were targeted, their property was expropriated, and they were forced to flee Europe. Their commitment to free and open public dialogue never wavered. Mosse Family heirs have continued to advocate for research, experimentation, and creative expressions in all forms for the purpose of new knowledge creation and public education and discourse.
Mosse Lectures Guiding Principles:
1- Continue the Mosse family legacy of confronting daunting social challenges through rigorous analysis, open dialogue, and philanthropy.
2- Inspire bold thoughts and actions.
3- Amplify talented scholarly voices who creatively address social challenges and societal polarization.
4- Broaden the boundaries of humanities research.
5- Coordinate Mosse-branded public events under a unified mission: “The Mosse Lectures”.
6- Expand the network of Mosse affiliates engaged with the Mosse Lectures initiative.
7- Mosse Lectures are free and open to the public.
The Mosse Lectures are co-directed by The Mosse Foundation and the George L. Mosse Program in History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.