Hungarian Leader Should Stop Meddling in Ukrainian Politics

[Abbazorkzog]

Hungarian Leader Should Stop Meddling in Ukrainian Politics

Mike Gonzalez / @Gundisalvus / October 31, 2017 / comments

Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary is at his best when defending his nation’s sovereignty against encroachment, be it from the liberal progressivism of George Soros or the crushing intrusions of the European Union.

He’s at his worst, however, when interfering in the self-determination of other sovereign nation-states around him.

The paranoia and ethno-centrism of Orban, as if it wasn't already an issue, is starting to look like Putinism.

But unfortunately, Orban is stirring trouble with Ukraine and Romania.

What’s the issue? You can put many different names on it—minority rights, multiculturalism, diversity—but some would say it borders on “irredentism.” Britannica describes irredentism as a “territorial claim based on a national, ethnic, or historical basis.”

I've been fairly outspoken against the Ukrainian government and the presence of corrupt oligarchs in Kiev, but this is beginning to look like an even bigger issue:

Orban’s government is also stoking long-term trouble by trying to entice the much larger group of ethnic Hungarians in Romania, mostly in Transylvania, to adopt dual nationality and register to vote in next year’s election in Hungary.

Budapest also wants these very same ethnic Hungarians to vote in Romania as well—for the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) party, which represents the Hungarian minority.

As some may already know, Ruthenia was part of Austria-Hungary prior to the end of WWI, after which it became part of Czechoslovakia. Ruthenians still have cultural roots tied to the Hungarian Hapsburg, as well as well over a million in Transylvania, which Orban is using as a scapegoat to further political influence in Transylvania via the Hungarian-Romanian diaspora. There are also a significant portion of ethnic Hungarians of Slovakian nationality. In addition to this, there are also significant portions in Vojvodina and even some in Eastern Croatia. If this is right, then Orban is attempting to establish a Neo-Magyarization push in these regions, and probably has delusions of granduer of returning Hungary to its pre-WWI Hapsburg borders, and probably has support from Turkey and Russia as well. I don't think he will succeed, but it would be unwise to simply handwave away Orban's geopolitics as a flash in the pan, particularly with populism rearing its head in Austria just west of the border...

 

[Litwin]

Hungarian Leader Should Stop Meddling in Ukrainian Politics

Mike Gonzalez / @Gundisalvus / October 31, 2017 / comments

The paranoia and ethno-centrism of Orban, as if it wasn't already an issue, is starting to look like Putinism.



I've been fairly outspoken against the Ukrainian government and the presence of corrupt oligarchs in Kiev, but this is beginning to look like an even bigger issue:



As some may already know, Ruthenia was part of Austria-Hungary prior to the end of WWI, after which it became part of Czechoslovakia. Ruthenians still have cultural roots tied to the Hungarian Hapsburg, as well as well over a million in Transylvania, which Orban is using as a scapegoat to further political influence in Transylvania via the Hungarian-Romanian diaspora. There are also a significant portion of ethnic Hungarians of Slovakian nationality. In addition to this, there are also significant portions in Vojvodina and even some in Eastern Croatia. If this is right, then Orban is attempting to establish a Neo-Magyarization push in these regions, and probably has delusions of granduer of returning Hungary to its pre-WWI Hapsburg borders, and probably has support from Turkey and Russia as well. I don't think he will succeed, but it would be unwise to simply handwave away Orban's geopolitics as a flash in the pan, particularly with populism rearing its head in Austria just west of the border...

Orban forgot what Muscovites did to them for 55 years

Ruthenians ? what Ruthenians have to do , with this story ?