Playing Second Fiddle: Europe in the Atlantic Community
‘The gradual diminishing of Europe’s importance in the eyes of the successive US administrations in the twenty-first century has been arrested by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and weakened the “pivot” or “rebalance” to Asia for the time being: emergencies have cropped up elsewhere. As Joseph Stalin may be said to have been one of the “founding fathers” of NATO, so may Vladimir Putin be seen in a similar role with regard to the revival of NATO, and closer US–EU cooperation.’
‘We need to teach our young people that their country is something to be proud of’ — An Interview with Robert Wilkie
‘You [in Hungary] imbue your young people in primary and secondary school with a sense of Hungary’s place in history…I mean, this was the country that turned back the invasions from Turkey and the Muslim lands and saved European civilization hundreds of years ago…We need to teach history in our schools, teach our young people that their country is something to be proud of.’
Accepting the Reality of a Probable Russian Victory
‘Since the start of the war, 8 million Ukrainians have fled their country; another 3 million have emigrated to Russia. Aside the mass defections, because of Ukraine’s birth rate collapse to the lowest recorded level, Zelenskyy has been unwilling to mobilize men aged between 18 and 25—typically the bulk of any fighting force. The fear is that, since most of these men are childless, should such die or become incapacitated, future demographic prospects would dim further.’
‘To compromise and recruit him’ — Secret Service Measures Against Chief Rabbi László Salgó
‘As documented in multiple historical works, Salgó was a state security agent codenamed “György Sárvári”, who reported on people he knew, most notably, Sándor Scheiber. While we do not intend to absolve him of his actions, certain documents may help readers gain a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the story.’
From Sadistic Interrogator to Bestselling Author of the Kádár Regime — The Story of András Berkesi
András Berkesi wrote a multitude of spy stories and adventure novels, becoming one of the star authors of the era, and was also awarded the Attila József Prize. Officially, no one has ever held him accountable for torturing, humiliating, and handing over people to the Russians to be taken to the gulag.
The Hungarian Lunar Radar Experiment
‘Their achievements in the following years are also remarkable because they worked in a complete vacuum, relying only on their own research and calculations. By March 1944 Bay’s team had reached the point where they could target the “locating” of the Moon—that is, capturing microwave signals reflected from the Moon’s surface.’
Outlaws, Hussars, Freedom Fighters — 5 Films about 15 March and Its Aftermath
15 March have been portrayed differently in each era. More recent productions focus on building a heroic myth or on reality, while before the regime change, the historical events of the 1848–49 Revolution were rather wrapped in a subtle critique of socialism. Magyar Krónika has collected five Hungarian films that bring the revolutionary events to life.
‘Not for the future, but for the past’ — A Conversation with Zsuzsa Daróczy
‘Our church is in an accessible, safe location, a single-story building, and a popular venue. We hold a traditional worship service. Most of the congregation is elderly. We deeply appreciate everything they have done for the church and the congregation, so we continue to serve them in the way they prefer.’
The Heyday of Chivalric Culture in Hungary Under the Angevin Kings
‘It was an unprecedented period in Hungarian chivalric culture when Charles restored the authority of royal power, and Louis reaped the benefits of his father’s policies. At this time the court of the Hungarian kings had international clout and a network of contacts indeed, with King Louis corresponding with influential figures such as poet Petrarch and famous Florentine chancellor Coluccio Salutati.’
Another Corruption Probe Rocks European Parliament’s Mainstream
Corruption appears to be among the ‘common European values’ often touted by mainstream parties in the European Parliament as yet another probe shakes the EU’s legislative institution. Initial reports suggest that around 15 former and current MEPs may be involved in a bribery case linked to Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
