Western civilization is at risk of repeating Rome’s fate, argues Iain McGilchrist. Speaking to Hungarian Conservative at Brain Bar 2025, the renowned psychiatrist warned that dominance of the left hemisphere produces power obsession, woke intolerance, and technological servitude. Only a revival of wisdom, culture, and community can restore balance.
Do the Palestinians have a right to form a state? If a one-state solution were implemented, what would happen to the Palestinian population? Why is compromise impossible with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority? We asked the head of the Shomron Regional Council—the de facto leader of the Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria—about the fading prospects of the two-state solution.
At the 5th Geopolitical Summit in Budapest, hosted by the Danube Institute and The Heritage Foundation, we spoke with a leading policy strategist about the collapse of liberal institutionalism, the rise of sovereign realism, and the future of conservative foreign policy. As global power shifts, how can nations preserve sovereignty in an era of deep uncertainty?
‘Globalization is, for me, not a well-defined term…It’s a journalistic word. So I would prefer talking about the differing levels of internationalization of the world economy, which is a legitimate topic. To say that there was an era of globalization and there is a new era of post-globalization is, for me, nonsense.’
‘There is not much time left to save France, to restore our European nations—but the people are there, ready for change,’ Fabrice Leggeri told Hungarian Conservative. The former head of Frontex, now serving as a Member of the European Parliament for France’s National Rally, expressed confidence in the rise of patriotic forces and their ability to represent the will of the people across the EU.
Justin Logan told Hungarian Conservative that NATO is entering a new era where Europe must provide for its own security. With the US unwilling to give Ukraine ironclad guarantees and Russia grinding forward, he warned that European pledges will mean little unless backed by real force.
Has Hungary made efforts to diversify its energy resources since 2022? What alternative energy supply routes does Hungary have? What will Hungary do if Donald Trump asks it to stop buying Russian oil? We spoke with the Hungarian State Secretary for Energy about Hungary’s energy policy.
Trade is now diplomacy, and connectivity is diplomacy—like the IMEC corridor linking Asia and Europe. We can’t go back to old systems; instead, we must build a new order based on diplomacy, trade, and connectivity, preserving capitalism while fostering cooperation amid global challenges, Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Isabella De Monte told our site in an exclusive interview.
What is at stake in the upcoming Hungarian parliamentary election? What is the importance of Hungary in Europe? Why do European institutions continuously criticize the policies of Fidesz? We asked the Head of the Media School at Mathias Corvinus Collegium about the tense political landscape in Hungary.
‘I walked into the Garfield Scout House and enthusiastically presented my plans—singing, reciting poetry, reading, and analyzing short stories and poems. I was surprised at how excited the second- and third-generation youth became…They were genuinely interested because they had grown up hearing these stories.’
What is the relationship between the Romanian and Hungarian governments like, and what role does the RMDSZ play in it? Can Szeklerland be granted autonomy? And why does Romania support Ukraine? We spoke with Romanian foreign policy analyst and former presidential adviser Iulian Chifu in Tusványos.
Is Hamas defeatable? What military methods can a regular army use against a guerrilla-style enemy? Could an independent Palestinian state be formed? We spoke at MCC Feszt with former British Army commander Richard Kemp who has been in Israel during all previous wars in Gaza.
What are the ideological roots of this self-hating Western mentality? What did the ancient people understand about the purpose of life that we seem to have lost? And what are the symptoms of the decline of Western civilization? We asked the Swedish American author and philosopher about ‘oikophobia’ at MCC Fest.
‘We are very much aware that Hayekian ideas must be articulated and defended in contemporary language—otherwise, they risk being confined to the seminar room or misunderstood as mere nostalgia for the past…The aim is not to create an elitist in-house journal, but to establish a lively forum for debate, analysis, and pointed interventions…’
‘Again and again, I find myself marveling at how beautifully God arranges everything. From the way we found this place, to how we were able to purchase it, to the way the Hungarian Cultural Center was established—it’s clear that His hand has guided us through it all.’
‘There’s so much that can be done or can happen even if you don’t speak any Hungarian. If you’re the person in your family who cares about your Hungarian heritage but you don’t share what you know, who is going to? It’s up to you to do it.’
‘British citizens are now unable to access content online, relating to their own country, unless they’re willing to hand over their data to large tech firms….The more the government tries to shut down any critique of its management of issues which the public deeply care about, the more backlash there will be.’
‘It’s a place that can be filled with life and possibility. I’d like the Hungarian House to welcome even those who may have visited before, but didn’t feel it was for them. I don’t just want to celebrate Hungarian heritage in America; I want to somewhat shape its present and future.’
As CEO of Aletihad News Centre, Hamad Al-Kaabi is a key figure in shaping public discourse in the United Arab Emirates. During MCC Feszt in Esztergom, he spoke to Hungarian Conservative about the deepening Hungary–UAE partnership, the role of AI in bilateral ties, and why the two countries are closer in values than geography suggests.
‘Over a decade, between 2014 and 2024, the EU has welcomed more than 8 million asylum seekers. So it’s a bit as if the EU has admitted a new Member State that would be entirely made up of asylum seekers.’
‘[Human rights NGOs] are advocates of censorship. Really, there was a takeover by the Soros Foundation of much of civil society to make them more censorial. We also know that the Soros institutions work directly with the intelligence and security agencies,’ Mr Shellenberger has told our site about his other area of expertise, free speech advocacy.
What role has Tusványos played in strengthening Hungarian–Romanian dialogue? Can Szeklerland be granted autonomy? Is Hungary’s Ukraine policy justified? We spoke with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Parliament at the Tusványos Festival—which he helped found—in the heart of Transylvania.
‘The biggest obstacle facing Donald Trump may not be the other party. It’s that his time is almost up,’ Patrick Deneen explained in an interview with Hungarian Conservative. The Notre Dame professor discussed how Trump’s second presidency has initiated a potential elite transformation in the US, the challenges ahead, and why he sees JD Vance as the ideal figure to carry on Trump’s legacy.
How has the international community turned against Israel? Did Israel commit crimes against the civilian population in Gaza? What is the importance of Hungary’s friendship with Israel? We asked Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs about Israel’s changing international reputation at the MCC Feszt, organized by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC).
‘It is impossible to defend democratic legitimacy by hollowing out the very norms that give our institutions their credibility. Germany’s strength after 1949 was not rooted in the moral purity of its political representatives, but in the trust built around procedures, non-negotiable rules, and the idea that the parliament is bound not by political preference but by democratic representation.’
‘I think this is something that’s often missed: communism and socialism, they’re attempts to solve a problem within liberalism. And the problem within liberalism is this individualism, right? Socialism and communism try to solve that problem, but they just repeat all the same problems. And so communism and liberalism are not so far apart. The Hungarians understand that particularly well…’
‘I started teaching the children ever since more of us from Wisconsin started attending the Csipke Camps…I try to put together a small performance for every major holiday, and in doing so, I help them learn more about Hungarian traditions. We meet weekly…but we gather beyond the rehearsals, to spend time together—we sing too, and try to preserve our Hungarian identity also in this way.’
‘We are no longer living in an age where mere export promotion or trade fairs are sufficient to stimulate economic growth. What Germany lacks is strategic positioning in a geopolitical context that has dramatically changed. That is where we step in. BWA Global Economic Network is Germany’s only institutional framework that consistently thinks in terms of economic diplomacy…’
‘When people asked me whether I’m Hungarian or Argentine, I used to say: “I’m 50 per cent Hungarian and 50 per cent Argentine”—until I heard someone saying they were 100 per cent of both. Since then, that’s what I do, too.’
‘According to Zsanett, it is time to let go of romantic notions about indigenous life. Many Amazonian communities no longer have a mystical connection to nature…It’s quite astonishing that the woman who once learned traditional knowledge from Don Fidel and the others is now the one teaching it to the village’s children and adults.’