1. How many Hungarian irredentists are there, and what is their real influence on Orban and his party?
2. More importantly, what realistic chances do Hungarian irredentists, open or otherwise, have of making their dreams reality? I'm not an expert on Hungary, but such people seem to me to be living in a fantasy world akin to Franco nostalgists or Sohrab Ahmari.
3. What kinds of religious communities were stripped of legal personality? You provide some examples, but what about the rest? Are we talking something like wannabe Branch Davidians, or more like Catholic Worker? Or all of the above?
Those are honest questions, FWIW. Also, FWIW, I am perfectly willing to believe that Orban is a cynic who cares not a fig for Christianity, except as it serves his aims.
Reply to 1: I don't know how many Hungarian irredentists there are. I don't think irredentism features prominently in Hungarian political debates, but there are definitely some on the right who nurture irredentists fantasies. Some critics of Orban believe his Ukraine policy, which is essentially pro-Russia, is motivated by fantasies of recovering a small section of Ukraine that once belonged to Hungary. I don't know whether that's true or not, but I wouldn't rule it out.
There's a deeper point about Hungarian nationalism, which is made by Janos Szeky and probably others: For the other countries of eastern Europe the establishment of the nation-state was a positive event. It was a moment that brought to fruition their longing for self-determination. The formation of the Hungarian nation-state, however, was a negative event. It occurred in 1920 with the dismemberment of Greater Hungary, which was a multi-national kingdom/state. This means, historically speaking, there's an inherent antithesis between liberalism and nationalism for Hungary in a way there isn't for the neighboring states. That makes it especially difficult for Hungarian liberals to appeal to their country's national traditions. Liberalism in Hungary is associated with the destruction of Hungarian greatness.
Questions:
1. How many Hungarian irredentists are there, and what is their real influence on Orban and his party?
2. More importantly, what realistic chances do Hungarian irredentists, open or otherwise, have of making their dreams reality? I'm not an expert on Hungary, but such people seem to me to be living in a fantasy world akin to Franco nostalgists or Sohrab Ahmari.
3. What kinds of religious communities were stripped of legal personality? You provide some examples, but what about the rest? Are we talking something like wannabe Branch Davidians, or more like Catholic Worker? Or all of the above?
Those are honest questions, FWIW. Also, FWIW, I am perfectly willing to believe that Orban is a cynic who cares not a fig for Christianity, except as it serves his aims.
Reply to 1: I don't know how many Hungarian irredentists there are. I don't think irredentism features prominently in Hungarian political debates, but there are definitely some on the right who nurture irredentists fantasies. Some critics of Orban believe his Ukraine policy, which is essentially pro-Russia, is motivated by fantasies of recovering a small section of Ukraine that once belonged to Hungary. I don't know whether that's true or not, but I wouldn't rule it out.
There's a deeper point about Hungarian nationalism, which is made by Janos Szeky and probably others: For the other countries of eastern Europe the establishment of the nation-state was a positive event. It was a moment that brought to fruition their longing for self-determination. The formation of the Hungarian nation-state, however, was a negative event. It occurred in 1920 with the dismemberment of Greater Hungary, which was a multi-national kingdom/state. This means, historically speaking, there's an inherent antithesis between liberalism and nationalism for Hungary in a way there isn't for the neighboring states. That makes it especially difficult for Hungarian liberals to appeal to their country's national traditions. Liberalism in Hungary is associated with the destruction of Hungarian greatness.
Reply to 3: I've written quite a bit on this question. Here are some links: https://hungarianspectrum.org/2012/08/13/david-baer-the-fate-of-hungarys-deregistered-churches/
https://hungarianspectrum.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/testimony-of-h-david-baer-texan-lutheran-university-for-the-record/
https://hdavidbaer.com/2018/12/28/hungarys-new-church-law-is-worse-than-the-first/
I also wrote a small book on this topic. If you're really interested, I can try to arrange to have a copy sent to you. https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Religious-vall%C3%A1sszabads%C3%A1g-v%C3%A9delm%C3%A9ben-Hungarian/dp/9639744387
Thanks. Any idea how to furnish an address?
Send an email to: dbaer@tlu.edu. I will try to answer your other questions as I have time.