In the following texts, Ivan Vejvoda, Marci Shore and Timothy Snyder honor the memory and intellectual legacy of a companion, a friend, and a supporter of the Institute. Marcin was a recurrent guest and visiting fellow at the IWM from its founding in Most of all, Marcin always felt a sense of responsibility to the IWM.
His support was rooted in an unwavering commitment to the IWM mission. Later he obtained academic degreesβfirst a PhD, then a habilitation. In , he received the academic title of professor of humanities. He served as dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Rehabilitation of the University of Warsaw and was a member of the Stefan Batory Foundation Council and the author of numerous books and journalistic pieces.
In , together with a group of Polish intellectuals, he founded the independent journal Res Publica. He was its founding editor-in-chief and remained chairman of the Res Publica Foundation Board. He was a staunch advocate for liberal democracy and civil liberties, and Res Publica served as a vehicle for spreading ideas and fostering debates on key philosophical and political issues. He was an engaged intellectual and prominent thinker with a keen eye for philosophy and social sciences but also current events.
We continued meeting throughout the early s as part of the Democracy Seminar network. We were all in unchartered waters, and Marcin was not only an insightful observer but also someone who saw further and more broadly than many others. He would call and inquire about specific developments and events.
He was a man of great empathy and understanding. It has been said that Marcin was not a revolutionary, but he was aware of the need for radical change.
