Youth and the future of politics: Former NATO Ambassador Peter Bátor reflects on his role as Čaputová’s advisor, and more

First, let’s talk about the place for young people in politics. What’s the value of a model UN like this, would you say? 

“I think it’s a very good first introduction to the topic because people think that working at the UN is just a noble job, where they will discuss only real issues and expert topics. Then, they find out that it’s not about standing at receptions and meeting important people. It’s about reading papers, writing reports, getting in touch and connecting with colleagues from other countries, and trying to persuade each other on the best position. It’s a lot of hard work with almost no external appreciation.

“So, simulations like this one are very important because they teach people that it’s real work, a real job, and it’s tough. They also help prepare you for what it’s really like. When you go as an intern to the UN, NATO, or the European Union, you’ll realize that many jobs are similar, and this experience is invaluable. Another benefit is that if you want to apply for an internship somewhere, you already have a clear trace of your interest. Every time I was looking for interns, I would check their CVs to see if they had any interest in the topic. This is a great first step, and I think it’s a good way to open doors for people.”

I’m curious if you’ve noticed a downward trend in young people being involved in politics, especially now where there’s a decoupling in US foreign policy from global order. Are people disenfranchised, are people frowning upon international institutions like the UN or NATO?

“I think there’s always a small group of people who are interested in these topics. Especially when it comes to international politics, it tends to attract fewer people compared to domestic politics, which engages the public for a number of reasons. Interest in international institutions is even more limited.

“Right now, I’d say the UN has taken more of a backseat, especially in Europe, mainly because of its struggles with being effective and efficient—particularly when it comes to the UN Security Council.

“At the same time, institutions like the European Union and NATO have been gaining strength and visibility. When real crises hit Europe, these organizations started playing a more prominent role. And now, with the potential decoupling of the US and Europe that you mentioned, people are starting to see these institutions as places where real solutions might emerge.

“So, young people are naturally turning their attention toward them. If you look at the OSCE, it was once a major player and quite attractive, but today it’s nearly invisible. The UN is also losing appeal in many areas. But when it comes to the EU and NATO, I think that’s where the future lies for young people—those are the institutions where young people can be and learn.”

Are similar events like this Model UN happening in Slovakia? Have you visited such events?

“Yes, there’s an event called BratMUN, which is also connected to the UN—a simulation of the UN’s activities. I think it’s really important, for the same reasons as here at this university: it gives students hands-on experience, opens doors, and helps them understand what diplomacy actually looks like in practice. It shows what it really means for diplomats to engage in negotiations and navigate diplomatic challenges. So yes, there are several events.”

And the Czech Republic is closer, let’s say. Both countries contend the term central Europe. They feel geographically, as well as politically, that they are central. But the Czech Republic is closer to Berlin, Dresden, etc. Would you say that that influences their integration? Or this kind of involvement of Model UNs in Prague, Brno versus Košice, or something like that? 

“I think the community is much more lively in Prague—and sometimes even here in Brno—than it is in Bratislava. One reason for that might be the large number of Slovak students studying in Prague and Brno, which naturally brings more energy and activity to these cities. It’s also a kind of evidence that there’s more going on here.

“That’s not to say there’s nothing happening in Bratislava—it’s just a bit different. For example, I can really feel the vibe here at this faculty. It’s more vibrant than what I’ve experienced at some faculties in Slovakia. I’m not sure if that’s because of the system [or structure] of the faculty itself or just the kind of people who are here—it would only be a guess.

“But I wouldn’t say it’s due to geographic proximity to Berlin. Politically speaking, Bratislava might even be closer in some ways, especially considering the strong German investment in Slovakia—like Volkswagen and the car industry, which is strategically important for us. Germany’s interest in Slovakia is significant, so I don’t think geography is the key factor.

“I’d say it’s more about the vibe, the people, and the institutional setup here. All of that combines to create something a bit different from what we see in Slovakia.”

And even Čaputová visits frequently. She’ll come to Brno or Prague to speak rather than often to some Slovak universities. 

“Yeah, I was with her on many of her trips—especially during the first three years when I worked with her. I believe she visited Slovak universities as well. But I think it’s always more exciting when a president from a foreign country visits a university—like here in Brno or in Prague. It feels a bit different than if the Czech president comes, because he’s more familiar, more frequently seen on TV and in the media. That wasn’t quite the case with President Čaputová, so whenever she came here, it was definitely a big attraction.

“I know she really enjoyed those visits, and I think they’re also very important. It’s meaningful to show interest in our neighboring country—our closest one, really. It’s a way of saying we care, that there’s a relationship and a shared interest. And it’s not just about the Slovak students studying here; it’s also about the Czech students. The closeness of the languages makes the connection feel much more natural than with any other country.”

There’s a trend where young men specifically are going to the humanities much less than young women right now. And the pendulum swing is not really being talked about as much as it probably should have. Because as the ambassador to Tunisia said in the opening remarks on Friday, that men really need to be allies to women. It’s not just a female movement. It has to be of the both sexes. And so what do you think, have you noticed this? Is it concerning at all? Are people talking about it, let’s say, in Slovakia or the Czech Republic? That on the one hand, it is incredible and good and also for moral and legal reasons to have more female representation. But is this going to be a problem where we have these Andrew Tate-influenced young men reversing, going to engineering roles, let’s say, or math roles, and then there’s this vacuum for space?

“First, I think both the Czech Republic and Slovakia are still somewhat behind the trends when it comes to these issues. And when I say ‘here,’ I don’t just mean Brno—I mean the whole region. Things that are taken for granted in the western parts of Europe are still seen as privileges here, particularly for women.

“And it’s not only about women—it’s also about LGBTI rights and anything that steps outside the traditional norms we’ve inherited, especially from the Communist era. I don’t think we’ve fully shifted our mindset yet. We still categorize things as “normal” and “not normal,” instead of recognizing that there’s no hierarchy to people’s identities or rights. We haven’t truly changed our mentality.

“For example, we talk about equality, but we often still act like giving women the same salary as men is doing them a favor, rather than something completely standard. It’s not about treating someone equally because they’re a woman—it’s about not seeing gender as a factor at all when making decisions.

“Personally, I’ve often ended up with more women than men in my teams—but it was never intentional. I always focused on the profile of the person I needed, not their gender. Sometimes I knew I needed someone who would bring a different energy or perspective to the team, and it just happened to be a woman—or vice versa. The point is, I was choosing based on the qualities of the individual, not their gender.

“That’s the kind of mindset shift we need. I’m personally not a big supporter of affirmative action—and I know that’s controversial—but for me, real equality means not seeing gender as a determining factor at all. Because when you do, even with good intentions, you risk discrimination of a different kind. Saying ‘I’m hiring you because you’re a woman’ is still not treating people equally. It’s not fair to women—or to anyone.

“If I end up hiring five men, it’s because they were the best candidates for that particular role. And if next time, I hire five women and no men, it’s for the same reason. Equality means making decisions without bias, without favor, and without assuming that someone’s gender should count for or against them.”

So when you’re acting as an advisor to Čaputová, as you were saying, what kind of advice would you even give to someone who would face so much misogyny? Because this is one of the big problems with women in politics, is that they are treated unfairly in a unique way. And they get all sorts of forms of misogyny. And so in those moments, I imagine that woman-to-woman advising is more relevant and helpful. But in some cases as an advisor, what are those meetings like in that scenario where it’s so bizarre, it’s so blatant, it’s so manipulative of the opposition. What are those conversations like? And how do young women view that, how does that affect them? Is this all included in the messaging when you guys are making decisions, how to respond to this?

“I wouldn’t really give her advice on that, because, honestly, she was the one giving us advice. One of her main lines was that you can’t take politics personally. She’d say, ‘It’s not me personally that you’re attacking, it’s the office of the president, the head of state. But you shouldn’t be attacking me as a person.’ And she didn’t take it as a personal insult. Of course, things went too far—like when they started attacking her family, which is far beyond any red line in politics. Families and close ones of politicians should never be targeted in that way. That’s a whole different issue, and you have to deal with it.

“But in politics, the message is clear: don’t take it personally, and don’t make it personal. When I criticize you politically, I’m criticizing you in your public role—not as a woman or a man. I think she handled this so well. Even when the attacks were gendered, when people targeted her as a woman rather than as a politician or president, she always found a way to respond that didn’t make you feel offended.

“I also witnessed many times when other men stepped in to defend her—not because she couldn’t defend herself, but because the attacks were just so far beyond the red line. One example that stands out is during her first meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels. She was asked the most absurd question: ‘This is your third dress today. You met the King of Belgium, now you’re here, and you had a different dress on the plane. How many more dresses are you planning to wear today?’

“And Jean-Claude Juncker took the floor, instead of letting her respond, and said, ‘Well, by the way, this is my third shirt today.’ Just to highlight how ridiculous the question was. It’s those kinds of moments where you see others stepping up to show that such things are just not acceptable.”

And if she’s speaking to these younger generations, does she get questions like that? How are you dealing with this as a person? 

“Always. Of course, there was always a lot of discussion around this. Surprisingly, she wasn’t a big fan of women-only meetings, for example. She always preferred to be in a mixed environment, where it wasn’t about highlighting that women are somehow different or special. To her, that went against the philosophy of equality.

“She would always say that, yes, concrete action is necessary to turn the theory of equality into real-life change. But she also made it clear that, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, you need to work hard. She’d often share how she worked tirelessly to become a lawyer, then a politician, and eventually president. And it wasn’t because she was a woman—it was because she put in the effort.

“Her advice to anyone was simple: work hard. Find your path because no one else will do it for you. And certainly not just because you’re physically different from a man. She’d say, ‘Work hard, and then we can address everything else.’ ”