#21: Leadership & Self-Discovery; Jesuit Values; Europe’s Blind Spots; Faith and Freedom

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes foreign policy analyst and educator Botond Feledy for a broad conversation about Europe’s political culture, leadership, identity, and the meaning of “the common good”.Long-time Brussels insider and co-worker of Jesuits, Botond shares his journey from studying law and international relations in France to launching Hungary’s first foreign policy magazine, working in the European Parliament, and later leading the Jesuit European Leadership Programme in Brussels.He reflects on how formative experiences such as his grandfather’s wartime stories and academic life in France and Germany shaped his perspective on Europe’s moral and institutional challenges. The discussion explores how Jesuit education helps reflection, self-leadership, and dialogue across differences, and why helping young professionals discern their own values may be key to building a more responsible generation of European leaders.Andras and Botond also discuss the philosophical foundations of leadership and respect, the long-term role of the Jesuits in European reconciliation, and the balance between efficiency and democracy in a world where autocracies challenge liberal values. They examine Europe’s vulnerability to disinformation, its struggle for a shared identity, and the tension between solidarity, national interest, and the pressures of global competition.The episode moves from personal history to geopolitics, from mentorship to moral philosophy, drawing a portrait of Europe as both fragile and resilient, and reminding listeners why playing the long game in democracy, education, and human values may be the only way forward.Botond's LinkedIn:   / feledybotond  European Leadership Programme: https://jesc-elp.eu/