Hungarian Conservative

‘Through the gaps in the door, I saw Arrow Cross members leading people to the Danube bank to be shot to death. I also witnessed that those who could no longer walk were shot dead then and there, on the street.’

Zsófia Mohos has managed to capture a part of Hungary where the culture and traditions are still kept, but are beginning to fade away. Her project ‘Görbeország’, for which she received the Audience Award of Highlights of Hungary, aims to eternalize the unique ways of the Palóc.

This year, the Highlights of Hungary Ambassador’s Award was won by Ferenc Berend for his unique no-till farm, Somogyi Kószáló Farm, located in Somogy County in south-western Hungary. Mr Berend’s family business regularly conducts self-financed experiments to better adapt the no-till technology to local conditions.

‘Conservatives and conservatism have featured in American political life from the beginning. The problem is that the history of American conservatism does not map onto contemporary ideological templates.’

Learning how much we have already achieved during the past two millennia gives us strength, says Csaba Böjte. An interview about the foundations of European Christianity, childcare and the purpose of human life.

In addition to her work at the Bethesda Children’s Hospital, Hungarian psychologist and singer Klára Korzenszky gives fairy tale concerts based on children’s psychodrama and fairy tale therapy with her ensemble Klárisok. For her, being a singer and being a clinical psychologist are inseparable.

‘On the one hand, future Hungarian architecture must be modern regarding technology, use, and lifestyle. It must express the world in which we live in a modern way. However, on the other hand, it must also be appropriate, expressing the identity of the place where we were born for a reason. This is our job, and this is our image.’

In the past decade, Hungary has been able to reach the EU average in several respects in the fields of oncology, states Prof. Csaba Polgár, Director General of the National Institute of Oncology. An interview about ‘devastating’ OECD statistics, the Hungarian cancer strategy and the suspended EU funds.

Hungary’s commitments under the new rule of law framework should serve as a model for the whole EU, states State Secretary János Bóka. An interview about the so-called rule of law debate, the growing political pressure of the European Parliament and the Hungarian Child Protection Act.

There has been no doubt from the first moment that Hungary is committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, argues Zsolt Németh, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Parliament in an interview about the decades of Hungarian NATO membership, the Hungarian peace diplomacy and the prospects of the Finland & Sweden Accession.

István Forgács argues that it is through education and work that the situation of the Hungarian Roma population can be improved.

‘Perhaps the Hungarians are the only nation in Europe able to feel and understand what we in Israel go through when we are exposed to unceasing criticism, while upholding Middle East’s only liberal democracy.’

‘What Europe ultimately needs is a fundamental psychological shift, in which pathological Western civilizational guilt and national self-effacement are set aside. Needless to say, this is a tall order for Western and Northern Europe. Here the nations of Central and Eastern Europe seem to have some advantage, however, having been somewhat isolated from such forces by history. They may be able to increasingly play a beneficial leadership role—if others are willing to listen.’

‘After Israel left Gaza, I was hoping that they would take what we left there, and turn that area into a paradise. It could have been the Singapore of the Middle East with beautiful beaches. We left many hothouses and other buildings, and they destroyed it all. They took the pipes left from the irrigation, turned them into rockets, and launched them back at us.’

Many of those deported did not even make it alive to their destination, but died on the way to the Soviet Union. These people were not even registered, so there is no information about how many they were. The purpose of their abduction was to rebuild the Soviet infrastructure that had been practically destroyed in the war, so to use them for free slave labour.

‘A free and democratic republic without an education that inspires young citizens to love their country on the one hand, and, on the other, raising such citizens without a serious religious education is unlikely to produce anything good or lasting.’

‘The European Commission is getting more political than its predecessors. In my view, this is unfortunate, given that this body is meant to be independent—the “Guardian of the Treaties”.’

‘Conservatism is Progressivism driving the speed limit,’ Mark Granza, founder and editor of IM-1776 reminds, adding that so far, the conservative movement has failed to reach out to the younger generations.

‘A major theme of the classical law is that the law should be stable over time and protect traditional expectations about how human life is arranged and how society is conducted. Liberalism by contrast is a doctrine of perpetual disruption and instability, constantly trying to find new frontiers by which traditional societies, and traditional morality can be disrupted.’

Ralf Schuler, former chief political correspondent for Bild talked to Hungarian Conservative about why he left the paper, what he has been doing since, and how the future of journalism might look like.

Renowned British author, commentator, and head of MCC’s Literary Centre Tibor Fischer talked to Hungarian Conservative about his career as a novelist, why he defends Hungary, the dangers of AI and the publishing challenges writers face.

Rodrigo Ballester, head of the Centre of European Studies at MCC, talked to Hungarian Conservative about the dangers of echo chambers, big tech cannibalising content, and the risks of EU institutions overregulating the press.

‘I think that there is a huge interest in Germany but also in other European countries for that rediscovery of European ideals in real life.’

‘Many of the causes he promoted used to be thought of (by the ignorant) as “right-wing” and have now become almost, or entirely, mainstream.’

‘The Hungarian prime minister not only understands the people, but is also able to give direction and to synthesise. He can bring the people’s expectations in line with what is achievable.’

‘We need the United States and NATO to say to Russia, “Okay, we get it. NATO will not enlarge to Ukraine and to Georgia.” In my view, that is not a defeat of NATO. That is just common sense.’

Turkey’s relations with NATO have been contentious over the years, but this is not unique among the member states and the parties have always managed to resolve their differences.

‘The huge potential of the Hungarian defence industry can unfold at the best possible time, as one of the recurring themes of EU defence ministerial discussions is that stocks are being depleted and there is insufficient capacity for after-market production.’

‘There are some member states that have their own historical sensitivities, and they don’t want European legislation on minority rights because that would mean that they must put their own house in order. 50 million Europeans who belong to a national minority are not protected by anti-discrimination legislation.’

Modern Hungary is not just a model for conservative statecraft, but the model. Americans, Brits, Spaniards, Australians—everyone—can and should learn from it. And by the way, I think we will, as The Heritage Foundation will be a major advocate of it on both sides of the Atlantic.