‘When I come to Hungary, I’m always amazed by how many young people are in important positions or leading organizations. That’s rare in Japan, where seniority and relationships established over decades is prioritized youth, talent and expertise. Japanese society doesn’t value young people enough,’ Japanese journalist Waka Ikeda pointed out in an interview with Hungarian Conservative.
The Danube Institute’s two-day event dedicated to family formation has started with keynote addresses from Executive Director István Kiss; author and Budapest Fellow Helen Roy; Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, a descendant of the historic Habsburg family; and Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó of Hungary.
Hungary’s rising swimming stars shone at the NCAA finals in Washington. Hubert Kós stormed to three gold medals, including a world-record-breaking swim, and helped the University of Texas secure the NCAA team title. Zalán Sárkány retained his title in the 1650-yard freestyle, while Minna Ábrahám broke her school record in the women’s 200-yard event.
‘On average, women are having one less child today than they were having in 1990…A country’s population size is being sustained when its total fertility rate reaches 2.1, but more than half of the world’s countries are below this level…In parallel with depopulation, life expectancy is on the increase, resulting in a major transformation of the age structure of societies.’
‘One of the main consequences of falling birth rates is labour shortages, which hamper economic growth and the sustainability of pension systems. In a paradoxical twist, regional inequality is deepened by the depopulation of rural areas, while in urban areas, the increase of real estate prices still hinders young people from starting new families. Digitalization…could be a solution to these problems.’
Alan J Kuperman, in a rare opinion piece published by The Hill, breaks with the Western narrative on the causes of the war in Ukraine, acknowledging that Donald Trump is right about most of the factors behind the conflict. This ultimately means Hungary was right as well, as the Hungarian government’s position on the war closely aligns with that of the US president.
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has reignited debates over historical authenticity, representation, and creative liberty in gaming. The controversy stems from its inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist, inspired by the 16th-century figure Yasuke. While some praise this as an overdue exploration of marginalized history, others argue it distorts Japan’s feudal past to fit modern diversity narratives.
‘The final assessment in terms of the policy of appeasement would be that at the diplomatic and political level, the allies did indeed achieve their goals of buying time, mobilizing, as well as isolating Germany in the first months of the war from either Japan or Italy. They made Germany dependent on Soviet resources to sustain short-term operations, and pushed its economy on the brink of collapse.’
‘Hungary’s unique historical background and geographic location make it a harbinger of fresh geopolitical guidelines, political standards and new norms. The country’s pragmatism in international relationships and capacity to preserve its strategic autonomy while still engaging with world bodies provide important inspiration for countries negotiating the challenges of modern global politics.’
This August the Sziget Festival will welcome visitors with a refreshed visual identity and a reimagined programme, featuring international music stars, innovative performances, and enhanced experiences designed to captivate audiences day and night.
Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political, philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.
