Non-violent revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe, political change in some countries of Latin America and Africa, and the future of democracy were the topics of the international conference held in New York on 18-19 April 2008, where Martin Bútora contributed with his lecture Modernization, Illiberalism and Civil Society.

The Conference was organised by the New York Transregional Center for Democratic Studies at the New School University, headed by Prof. Elzbieta Matynia. Participants included political scientists, sociologists, philosophers and students from the US, Canada, Europe and South Africa. The contributions will be published in book-form as well.

During his stay in the USA, Martin Bútora visited the Princeton University where he gave a lecture at the Chair of History within the cycle Modern History Colloquium, entitled Actors of Change: Role of the NGOs in Democratic Transformation in Slovakia.