Download the complete competition information and rules: Essay Competition - The Meaning that Still Matters (PDF, 159 KB).

This year’s theme is inspired by Havel’s reflection:

“The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less.” Tragédie moderního člověka není v tom, že ví čím dál méně o smyslu svého života, ale v tom, že mu to čím dál méně vadí. ~ Václav Havel, 1986, Disturbing the Peace (Dálkový výslech)

Georgetown University undergraduate students are invited to submit a 500–1,000 word essay, concisely written, reflecting on the theme The Meaning That Still Matters.

Drawing inspiration from Havel’s writings and public thought, students are encouraged to consider how questions of meaning, responsibility, and moral awareness resonate in today’s world. Possible areas of reflection may include, though are not limited to: civic engagement, democratic responsibility, ethical leadership, social indifference, freedom of expression, technological change, global crises, or the role of the individual in shaping a humane society.

Essays should demonstrate critical thinking, originality, and clarity of argument. Interdisciplinary approaches are welcome.

The award will be presented during an Embassy event at its discretion.

Historical Background
Václav Havel (1936–2011) was a playwright, essayist, dissident, and political leader whose moral voice helped shape the democratic transformation of Central Europe. As a co-founder of Charter 77, he challenged the communist regime’s failure to uphold human rights. Following the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Havel became the last President of Czechoslovakia and later the first President of the Czech Republic.

Havel’s writings and speeches emphasized conscience, responsibility, and the ethical dimension of politics. In 1990, shortly after his election, he addressed a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress, articulating a vision of democracy rooted not only in institutions, but in human responsibility.

Georgetown University held special significance for Havel, who believed deeply in the role of students in shaping democratic change. In 2013, Václav Havel’s Place was dedicated in Georgetown’s Alumni Square as a living memorial for reflection and dialogue. A bust of Havel, dedicated in 2014, stands in the Freedom Foyer of the U.S. Capitol.