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The Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies (CES) is a center at Harvard University dedicated to the study, understanding, and promotion of European affairs and transatlantic relations. Founded in 1969, the Center has fostered interdisciplinary scholarship, focusing on the intricate social, political, historical, and cultural dimensions of Europe. It has hosted notable political and scholarly personalities, established partnerships with institutions worldwide, hosted dozens of visiting researchers, and run programs, seminars, events, and issued publications.

History of the Center
Originally founded as "West European Studies" in 1969, the Center for European Studies (CES) at Harvard evolved from two prior initiatives, the "German Research Program" initiated by Henry Kissinger, at the time Harvard faculty member, and a "West European Studies" seminar run professor Stanley Hoffmann and his student assistant Guido Goldman. The proposal by professors Hoffmann, David Landes, and Laurence Wylie to the Ford Foundation to fund European academics& visits to Harvard was one of the key milestones in the development of the Center. In the Center's initial years, Goldman served as the Center's director, and Hoffman was the Chairman. Goldman and Hoffman are seen as founders of the Center. In 1978, twelve members of the Center published a letter in the New York Times criticizing KIssinger for his statements about the threat of communism.

In 1989, the Center for European Studies transitioned into its new permanent location at Adolphus Busch Hall and was renamed the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies. This relocation was celebrated with a conference featuring European Commission President Jacques Delors. The building formerly housed the Busch-Reisinger Museum, a component of Harvard Art Museum.

The move was facilitated by two significant developments. First, the Fogg Art Museum's expansion allowed the German art collection to be relocated, ensuring its better preservation within the newly consolidated Harvard Art Museums. Second, a generous donation of $10 million in 1986 by Baron Alain de Gunzburg and his sons, Jean and Charles, greatly supported the Center. This contribution honored the late Aileen Mindel Bronfman de Gunzburg, fondly known as "Minda." Goldman, CES director from 1969-1994 and a close family friend, noted the crucial role of the de Gunzburgs' support in securing the Center's future.

The Center furthered its educational mission by incorporating a larger number of faculty, students, and scholars. By 1996-97, it hosted 18 senior faculty, 10 junior faculty, 26 visiting scholars, 47 affiliates, and 52 graduate students.

Goldman played a pivotal role in obtaining financial support for Center from the German government and other sources. He raised over 75 million dollars for the Center and the Harvard university. German and American corporations donated large sums to bolster ties between Europe and the United States.

Grzegorz Ekiert, professor of government at Harvard, serves as the Center's director. Elaine Papoulias has been the Executive Director since 2013.

The Adolphus Busch Hall
The Center is located in the historical Adolphus Busch Hall on the Harvard University campus. It is an architecturally significant building that has played a pivotal role in the academic and cultural landscape of the institution. Constructed with the patronage of the Busch family, the hall was originally home to Harvard's Germanic Museum, which later became known as the Busch-Reisinger Museum. In 1989, the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies (CES) relocated to the building.

Notable Speakers and Partners
Notable speakers hosted by the Center in its first years included Jacques Delors, European Commission President, Christiane Lemke, Andreas Buschner, Sigmar Gabriel, and Miriam Meckel.

The Center has hosted numerous world leaders, presidents and prime ministers, distinguished scholars and personalities. Some of them are Roberta Metsola and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Radek Sikorski

The Center hosted numerous highly notable meetings, seminars, and debates.

Several of the Center's affiliates, including Alexander Görlach, have been frequent contributors to the New York Times.