A cultural and literary historian; an essayist and a researcher on Central European cultures; studied Hungarian and German and comparative literature of Eastern Europe (comparing similarities between Polish and Hungarian literature). Hungarian opposition activist (Hungarian Democratic Forum) in the years 1987-1990. In 1992-1995 Director of the Institute of Central Europe in Budapest. Since 1995 scholar at the ELTE University in Budapest. 1994-2004 Visiting Professor in Zagreb. Author of several books on Central European literary and political matters published in France, Germany, Slovakia, Croatia and Poland. His book Dziennik polski (1980-1982) was translated and published in Poland.