Past Abstracts
1,037 abstracts found
Political and Economic Transitions in Hungary in the 20th Century
History/Political ScienceIn the course of the 20th century there were six political transitions in Hungary, three immediately after WWI (October, 1918, March, 1919, August, 1919). These were followed by an extreme right turn in 1944, and then a democratic transition took place in 1945. The communist dictatorship started in 1948, with the fusion of the two left-wing parties. The 1956 revolution started a new era within the communist dictatorship; however, structural changes were only realized in 1989, when after 40 years the communist system collapsed. Political changes must, after a certain time, be followed by economic and social changes. However, in most cases Hungary lacked these changes, due to the rather frequent transitions. This was the same in the case of the relatively longer political eras, like the Bethlen-era or the Kádár-era, as well, which were both interrupted by serious economical crises, the Great Depression and the Oil Crisis, respectively. In this presentation I would like to present the effects of the frequent political changes on Hungarian economy, bearing in mind the fact that more than 20 years have passed since 1989, and the complete economic and social transition have not yet been realized.
Political Participation, Civic Education and Gamification from Comparative Perspective
History/Political ScienceThere is a consensus among researchers that compared to former generations, young peoples’ political participation is changing. Since globalization effects young people both in the USA and in Hungary, there is a need to understand how changing social (youth transition to adulthood) and technical conditions (digitalization) bring changes in the way how young people get information, get interested in public matters and find their ways of political participation.
Online games are recent technological advancement to be viewed as an educational panacea and a force for democracy. Civics education research shows that higher levels of civic knowledge are often correlated with greater civic participation. As such, the civic knowledge gains experienced by students playing online civics education gaming programs should not be discounted since this increase in civics knowledge may increase students’ propensity for civic participation.
Based on interviews and own teaching experience the first part of the presentation brings evidence from US Campus context to show how learning experience from online games (such icivics.org) can be incorporated into action civics in the classrooms.
The second part of the paper aims to find out how experiences from US College context can be replanted into civic education in a new democracy. Online games are a popular in Hungary and they are used for educational purposes (e.g. honfogalo.hu). However in Hungary, civic education is weak and political topics are expelled from classrooms. To show what effect lack of civic education had on Hungarian students’ civic skills and concept about democracy the paper brings empirical evidence from interviews with leaders of Hungarian NGOs dealing with non-formal civic education and from data collected by Active Youth in Hungary Research Group among students enrolled to Hungarian Higher Education.
Although social and political context matters, the presentation argues that online gamification can create platform for students in both countries to study and practice their civic knowledge.
Online games are recent technological advancement to be viewed as an educational panacea and a force for democracy. Civics education research shows that higher levels of civic knowledge are often correlated with greater civic participation. As such, the civic knowledge gains experienced by students playing online civics education gaming programs should not be discounted since this increase in civics knowledge may increase students’ propensity for civic participation.
Based on interviews and own teaching experience the first part of the presentation brings evidence from US Campus context to show how learning experience from online games (such icivics.org) can be incorporated into action civics in the classrooms.
The second part of the paper aims to find out how experiences from US College context can be replanted into civic education in a new democracy. Online games are a popular in Hungary and they are used for educational purposes (e.g. honfogalo.hu). However in Hungary, civic education is weak and political topics are expelled from classrooms. To show what effect lack of civic education had on Hungarian students’ civic skills and concept about democracy the paper brings empirical evidence from interviews with leaders of Hungarian NGOs dealing with non-formal civic education and from data collected by Active Youth in Hungary Research Group among students enrolled to Hungarian Higher Education.
Although social and political context matters, the presentation argues that online gamification can create platform for students in both countries to study and practice their civic knowledge.
Poly-Universe: Art, Game, Math (Workshop)
Education/Social SciencesThe Poly-Universe is art and play, a visual experience-based mathematics teaching methodology, a tool for interdisciplinary change in teacher education. The Erasmus+ PUSE project aimed at developing a new visual mathematics teaching methodology, as the novelty of the tool lies in the scale-changing symmetry inherent in the basic shapes and the colour combination system assigned to them. It can be used in a wide range of educational contexts, particularly in mathematics, geometry and combinatorics. After the development of the mathematical methodology, Erasmus+ PUNTE was launched as an integral continuation of it. The project also aims to develop an innovative, interdisciplinary, STEAM-based pedagogical method, good practices and courses, which are primarily related to this revolutionary educational tool. The Poly-Universe is incredibly simple, yet infinitely complex, synergy in education:
http://www.poly-universe.com/
https://www.punte.eu/
https://puse.education/
https://mersz.hu/hivatkozas/matud202311_matud_book1/kom/1
For the workshop we need 6 tables and chairs for about 30 participants, and a projector.
Workshop professors: János Szász Saxon inventor and Zsuzsa Dárdai art critic, educator
http://www.poly-universe.com/
https://www.punte.eu/
https://puse.education/
https://mersz.hu/hivatkozas/matud202311_matud_book1/kom/1
For the workshop we need 6 tables and chairs for about 30 participants, and a projector.
Workshop professors: János Szász Saxon inventor and Zsuzsa Dárdai art critic, educator
Popular Revisionist Expectations Toward the United States in Post-Trianon Hungary
History/Political ScienceThe dismemberment of the Kingdom of Hungary after the First World War and the subsequent Treaty of Trianon came as a shock for the Hungarians. The treaty, which the Allies dictated and not negotiated with Hungary, was considered unjust and its revision became a number-one concern for interwar Hungarian society, regardless of class and status of individuals.
Mainly defined by a set of traditional images of America as the land of freedom, democracy and fair play and the image of the United States as arbiter mundi, and at the same time based on significant political, historical and ideological tenets (i.e. the question of dismemberment, Wilson and the Fourteen Points, US boundary proposals for Hungary at the Paris Peace conference, American refusal to sign the Treaty of Trianon) Hungarians fed high expectations toward the United States relative to the revision of the Treaty of Trianon.
Beyond semi-official campaigns directed toward the United States, there were many examples of popular (or private) contributions to the revisionist cause. In the abundant Trianon literature one can find many pamphlets, open letters, brochures, newspaper articles and even book-length accounts by members of the Hungarian or the Hungarian-American intelligentsia, with most tenuous connections to Hungarian governmental circles or influential political groups. These popular utterances addressed either the American people in general, or one particular segment of the American public and political life in particular, such as, for example, American educators, the US Congress and its members, or even the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The proposed paper intends to analyze these forms of popular revisionism toward the US and illuminate the desperation of contemporary Hungary to win any and all support for the revision of the Treaty of Trianon.
Mainly defined by a set of traditional images of America as the land of freedom, democracy and fair play and the image of the United States as arbiter mundi, and at the same time based on significant political, historical and ideological tenets (i.e. the question of dismemberment, Wilson and the Fourteen Points, US boundary proposals for Hungary at the Paris Peace conference, American refusal to sign the Treaty of Trianon) Hungarians fed high expectations toward the United States relative to the revision of the Treaty of Trianon.
Beyond semi-official campaigns directed toward the United States, there were many examples of popular (or private) contributions to the revisionist cause. In the abundant Trianon literature one can find many pamphlets, open letters, brochures, newspaper articles and even book-length accounts by members of the Hungarian or the Hungarian-American intelligentsia, with most tenuous connections to Hungarian governmental circles or influential political groups. These popular utterances addressed either the American people in general, or one particular segment of the American public and political life in particular, such as, for example, American educators, the US Congress and its members, or even the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The proposed paper intends to analyze these forms of popular revisionism toward the US and illuminate the desperation of contemporary Hungary to win any and all support for the revision of the Treaty of Trianon.
Portrait of an Abusive Relationship. Parliamentary Sovereignty vs The Rule of Law in Hungary.
History/Political ScienceIn line with this year’s conference theme of “Sovereignty and Compromise” this paper addresses the conflict between the Rule of Law and Parliamentary Sovereignty, and the challenges of achieving an acceptable compromise between the two concepts that are the foundations of modern democratic governance. It is acknowledged, that even under the best of circumstances, the relationship between parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law, is problematical. Wherever parliament is sovereign, such as the British system, or Hungary, the rule of law must be given special protection against potential abuses by parliamentary majorities. Parliamentary sovereignty must be counterbalanced by rigorous systems of public scrutiny (in and out of parliament), and must be exercised in a manner that respects the basic principles of justice and constitutionalism. This paper looks at the state of the “marriage” between parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law in Hungary, a Central European country that is a member of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Community. The author argues that in the case of Hungary, the “marriage of convenience” between parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law has broken down. It details how the government of Viktor Orbán, elected to office in 2010 and re-elected once again in April 2014, abuses the rule of law, via its supermajority in parliament. How to achieve a balance, or a compromise, how to put an end to this abusive relationship ? The paper argues that political leadership and accountability play a strategic role in the re-establishment and maintenance of the needed compromise. New mechanisms of accountability, nationally and internationally, must be put in place and followed, in order to uphold the “original marriage contract”. Without appropriate leadership and accountability, the abuse will continue, and there will be no compromise. The paper begins with a conceptual “re-boot” of the values that Europe and the North Atlantic Community claim are the cornerstones of their constitutional democracies. It then moves on and examines the salience of these values in Hungary’s political culture. The third part of the essay focuses on the political leadership of the Orbán regime vis á vis these values and the political-cultural challenges this poses for democratic governance. In the final section, the paper outlines the leadership strategy and the mechanisms of accountability that Hungary and the European Union together could implement in order to restore harmony, between the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty.
Possibilities for a New Social Model? Vid Mihelics’ Forgotten Work and the Social Question (1921-1944)
History/Political ScienceOne of the most important terrains of the European search for new ways in politics between the two world wars was the debate on the reorganisation and tasks of the state and, within it, of the economy and society. The proposals for solutions were many and varied, but this topic dominated the academic discourse in the 20s and 30s in many regards. The thinkers who sought answers (economists, philosophers, historians, sociologists, ecclesiastics) could build on a number of early predecessors, going back as far as St Thomas Aquinas's 'organic view of society' and later embodied in the economic and political theory of Jesuit solidarism. The common feature of the theories of our period was that they approached the construction of the state not from the point of view of the individual, but from the point of view of social groups. A prominent exponent of these ideas in Hungary was Vid Mihelics, who from the very beginning devoted his journalistic, scientific and political activities to the Hungarian Catholi,c revival. After his upbringing in the Cistercian Order, he worked continuously as a journalist, and his interests increasingly focused on social issues and the social teaching of the Church. His writings were also centred around these themes, seeking solutions through the ideas of Christian humanism, which for him was 'the inalienable essence of true Europeanism'. This lecture aims to summarise and present this ideas and thoughts on state, politics and society.
Possibilities for Implementing Hungarian Folk Song Teaching Methods into American-Hungarian Education // A magyar népi ének tanításmódszertan átültetésének lehetőségei az amerikai magyar oktatásba
Music/FolkloreWhat are pillars of the methods of teaching Hungarian folk singing today? What are the most important rules and directions that we should follow? How can you apply the practice of folk singing, with 40 years of history, in American-Hungarian education? What parts can be easily inserted without professional knowledge? Consequently, what are the areas to be developed and how can those be solved? Hungarian folk singing is one of the most fundamental parts of our Hungarian culture, so it is crucial in American-Hungarian education as well. Borbála Konkoly, a folk song performer and teacher, answers these questions, outlining a possible way that professional methods of Hungarian folk singing can be implemented in American-Hungarian education.
Hogy épülnek fel a mai magyar népi ének tanítás módszerei? Melyek a legfontosabb szabályok, irányok, melyeket érdemes követnünk? Hogyan lehetne a 40 éves múlttal rendelkező népzenetanítás, esetünkben népi éneklés gyakorlatait átvenni az amerikai-magyar oktatásba? Mi az, ami professzionális tudás nélkül is könnyedén beilleszthető? Ebből következően melyek a fejlesztendő területek és megoldási javaslatok? A magyar népi éneklés a magyar kultúra egyik legalapvetőbb része, így elengedhetetlenül jelen van az amerikai magyar oktatásban is. Konkoly Borbála népi ének előadóművész és pedagógus előadásában ezekre a kérdésekre ad válaszokat, felvázolva egy olyan lehetséges mintát, amely az amerikai-magyar oktatásba is beilleszthető.
(Presentation in Hungarian)
Hogy épülnek fel a mai magyar népi ének tanítás módszerei? Melyek a legfontosabb szabályok, irányok, melyeket érdemes követnünk? Hogyan lehetne a 40 éves múlttal rendelkező népzenetanítás, esetünkben népi éneklés gyakorlatait átvenni az amerikai-magyar oktatásba? Mi az, ami professzionális tudás nélkül is könnyedén beilleszthető? Ebből következően melyek a fejlesztendő területek és megoldási javaslatok? A magyar népi éneklés a magyar kultúra egyik legalapvetőbb része, így elengedhetetlenül jelen van az amerikai magyar oktatásban is. Konkoly Borbála népi ének előadóművész és pedagógus előadásában ezekre a kérdésekre ad válaszokat, felvázolva egy olyan lehetséges mintát, amely az amerikai-magyar oktatásba is beilleszthető.
(Presentation in Hungarian)
Preparing for Hungarian Junior Language Exam: Experiences with Young Learners in Montreal
Education/Social SciencesIn November, 2016 five young learners passed successfully the ELTE Origó Junior Level Hungarian Language Exam in Montreal. This test is specially designed for children in primary and lower secondary education between ages 10-16 who have learned the Hungarian language for at least 200 hours and are interested in finding out their knowledge level. The junior level takes part of the range of the Hungarian State exams as starter level (A2). Every child who takes a test gets a certificate – it’s a great way to reward achievement.
My presentation is intended to show how to prepare young learners for such a challenge in Canada and to encourage curriculum development. The preparation had been taking part every Saturday morning for seven weeks in the Hungarian School of Montreal and was designed to make a child’s early language learning experience positive and fun as well as increase their self-confidence and language skills. The light of the foregoing, class materials cover familiar, interesting topics and develop the skills learners need to communicate in Hungarian.
The junior exam assesses how competent the young candidate is not just in understanding or speaking but reading and writing in Hungarian. For all these reasons, after placement test, a specially designed curriculum was also needed to develop in the following areas: spelling, vocabulary (ex. geography, literature), proverbs, cultural knowledge (ex. Hungarian national holidays, famous people, and customs). It was also very important to prepare children how to speak independently, how to describe a picture or how to complete a listening test in Hungarian.
My presentation is intended to show how to prepare young learners for such a challenge in Canada and to encourage curriculum development. The preparation had been taking part every Saturday morning for seven weeks in the Hungarian School of Montreal and was designed to make a child’s early language learning experience positive and fun as well as increase their self-confidence and language skills. The light of the foregoing, class materials cover familiar, interesting topics and develop the skills learners need to communicate in Hungarian.
The junior exam assesses how competent the young candidate is not just in understanding or speaking but reading and writing in Hungarian. For all these reasons, after placement test, a specially designed curriculum was also needed to develop in the following areas: spelling, vocabulary (ex. geography, literature), proverbs, cultural knowledge (ex. Hungarian national holidays, famous people, and customs). It was also very important to prepare children how to speak independently, how to describe a picture or how to complete a listening test in Hungarian.
Preserving Hungarian Language and Culture among Young People of Hungarian Descent. The example of the Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris.
Education/Social SciencesMany parents of Hungarian descent wish their children to become good citizens of their adopted country, while at the same time cherishing and preserving their Hungarian heritage. Two organizations stand out as vehicles towards this objective: the local week-end “Hungarian Schools” and the Hungarian Scout Association is Exteris (HSAE). The schools operate independently, generally with individual curricula, and are united mostly in a loose bond with the other schools. The HSAE, on the other hand, is a structured legal entity, which has been operating outside of Hungary for 67 years on four continents: Western Europe, South America, North America and Australia.
In addition to its mission of developing young people within the spirit of international scouting, the HSAE has developed a palette of programs aimed at transmitting and preserving the knowledge of Hungarian language and culture among its scouts. The scout activities are held in Hungarian and many of the aspects of Hungarian culture – folklore, history, literature, etc. – are transmitted informally as part of typical scout activities: camping, excursions, competitions, campfires. Future leaders participate in more formal classes and sit exams at various levels. This is complemented with visits and training programs in Hungary and in the Hungarian-populated areas of the neighboring countries.
The presentation will provide an overview of the programs as well as of the results and experiences of the Scout Association.
In addition to its mission of developing young people within the spirit of international scouting, the HSAE has developed a palette of programs aimed at transmitting and preserving the knowledge of Hungarian language and culture among its scouts. The scout activities are held in Hungarian and many of the aspects of Hungarian culture – folklore, history, literature, etc. – are transmitted informally as part of typical scout activities: camping, excursions, competitions, campfires. Future leaders participate in more formal classes and sit exams at various levels. This is complemented with visits and training programs in Hungary and in the Hungarian-populated areas of the neighboring countries.
The presentation will provide an overview of the programs as well as of the results and experiences of the Scout Association.
Priests, Pastors, and Power: The Corruption of Clergy in Novels by Zsigmond Móricz and Ludwig Thoma
Language/LiteratureThe novel A fáklya written by Zsigmond Móricz in 1917, and Ludwig Thoma’s novel Andreas Vöst penned in 1906, both portray the influence of modernity on the role played by clergy in rural society – Móricz in Hungary, Thoma in Bavaria. In these regions of Central Europe, religious authorities played critical roles as moral arbiters of social values, celebrants of key milestones in individual and family life, and powerful liaisons between the individual and the state. Clergy played an often determining role in constituting community and individual identity given the demand that the members of rural society collectively ascribe to and participate in a common faith. Yet as both Móricz and Thoma emphasize, while pastors and priests may represent presumably absolute moral and religious values, they also succumbed to the modern forces of status, commodification, and materialism, and were consequently subjected to the corrupting influences of these forces. In both narratives, the religious leader of the community bears direct responsibility for social, moral, and physical harm. My paper will explore the connections between religious authority on the one hand, and secular corruption and individual moral failing on the other, in order to analyze the role of religious authorities in exacerbating the social ennui that accompanied the forces of modernity in rural Hungary and Bavaria as seen in these narratives. My comparison will show that the corrupting influence of these fictional religious authorities exemplified a phenomenon that affected Europe generally as it transitioned from a feudal to a modern economy and society.
Prime Minister Pál Teleki’s Plans for the Reform of the Hungarian Economic and Social Order
History/Political ScienceTeleki’s predecessors (Gömbös, Imrédy) wanted to create a corporate social and economical system such as that which existed in Italy. Teleki (influenced by the idea of 'professional orders/estates' mentioned in encyclical letter of the Pope Pius XI), however, intended to oppose the Arrow Cross and wanted to create a society and economic system inspired by the Roman Catholic Church. The plans were prepared (I found them) but the war prevented them from being realized.
Principles and Implementation of a Hungarian Reading Comprehension Intervention
Education/Social SciencesReaching an appropriate level of reading comprehension is a time-consuming journey; supporting this developmental process may even holds relevance in higher education to prepare students to successfully deal with academic texts. Over time, the focus in reading competence support should gradually be put on teaching reading strategies. This seems to have its challenges in several countries. In Hungary, the most fundamental issues are the short period of time explicitly dedicated to teaching reading, on the one hand, and the lack of knowledge in methodology of teaching reading strategies, on the other hand. This presentation describes the principles and implementation of an ongoing reading comprehension intervention which addresses these problems. The presentation builds on the data from PIRLS and PISA, and highlights the relevance of the intervention in Hungary from an international perspective. As part of the intervention, 12 teachers received training to enhance the reading comprehension of 5th grade students embedded in the domains of history and science. Two 8-hour workshops were held where teachers were actively involved in the selection and adaptation of reading strategies and motivational fundamentals to be used in the intervention to the curricula of the two domains. These were followed by a 12-week trial period. The international relevance of the intervention lies in the close cooperation with teachers, which may be crucial for the sustainability of the intervention methodology.
Printing for the Empire, Printing for the Minorities: The Buda University Press (1770- 1848) in Pest -Buda
Language/LiteratureMy proposed paper offers an introduction to the history and activity of the Buda University Press, the institution, which, by printing the most important scholarly texts for the nationalities of Hungary, played an important role in the articulation ideas of national awakening in the region. Founded in Upper Hungary in 1577, the Press moved to Pest-Buda in the late 18th century as part of the general relocation of the country’s most important administrative offices from Pozsony to the twin cities. Due to the printing privileges conferred on the Press by the Austrian imperial court, the Press was in the unique position to print with non-Latin alphabet, which make it the most important producer of schoolbooks for a wide range of nationalities of the empire. This role of spreading cultural modernity and cultural enlightenment will be measured against the conditions of literacy in the language areas whose scholars were employed by the university press, as well as against the national composition of the twin cities. The paper will argue that Pest-Buda acted as an important regional center in the period, where national self-conceptualisations were articulated.
Problem Solving Strategies for Today’s Students: Learning from Pólya’s Methodology
Education/Social SciencesThe problem-solving process identified by the late Hungarian mathematician, George Pólya has had significant implications for the teaching and learning of mathematics in American schools for decades. Pólya’s work is currently being framed as an essential component in developing mathematical thinking and in developing the ‘habits of mind’ that lead to the development of deep understanding in mathematics. Researchers and practitioners in the field of mathematics education have drawn upon the work of Pólya in developing frameworks for students of mathematics in K-12 education as well in college-level study of mathematics. In fact, Pólya’s methodology has implications for learning beyond mathematics teaching and learning. This session will explore an instructional format for planning and teaching mathematics, as well as the implications for learning beyond mathematics.
Problems and Prospects of the 2012 Electoral Law and Dual Citizenship in Hungary
History/Political ScienceThe Fidesz-KDNP right-of-center coalition won a two-third majority in Parliament in 2010. Prime Minister Victor Orban's government immediately began the "reorganization" of the country starting with constitutional replacement. This includes shrinking Parliament to half-size, re-legislating the electoral system and extending citizenship to Hungarians abroad, creating dual citizenship status cum voting rights. The measures appeal to nationalist emotions and also may influence the outcomes of future elections. This novel approach to minority problems, however raises serious questions: The legislation affects the sovereignty of surrounding countries and was undertaken without diplomatic negotiations and agreements, creating legal vacuums both in public and private law relationships. The extension of voting rights in foreign countries upsets regional stability and appears to be contradictory to European Union principles. This is a policy of confrontation instead of reconciliation and may be perceived as "irredentist" rejection of European borders. The actions of the Hungarian government may satisfy (un)realistic aspirations but may also weaken both the minorities' prospects and the positive inter-state relations in the Carpathian basin.
Problems of a Declining Hungarian Birth Rate: A Historical Perspective
History/Political ScienceIn sharp contrast to its European neighbors, for over century Hungary has had a seriously declining birth rate. This paper aims to examine this anomaly through a historical perspective by considering the major findings of a series of demographic studies that identify the key factors behind falling levels of fertility. It does so by focusing on four major periods. The first period covers the era prior to the demographic transition that commenced before 1880, and takes into account registers from the eighteenth century, when the demography was characterized by high birth rates and high death rates. The second period is one of demographic transition, between 1880 and 1960. It coincided with modernization, and is the period when death rates fell, while at the same time being accompanied by a decrease in birth rates. The third period is the post-transitional era of 1960-1980; and the fourth covers the post-socialist change of 1990-2010, which – except during the 1970s - has shown a continuous decline in birth rate and population loss.
Significantly, as this paper shows, Hungary was the first country in Europe after the Second World War in which the level of fertility declined far below a level of simple replacement of the population, which is conventionally measured as less than 2.1 births per woman. Since 1981 the population has been declining by about 0.15-0.20 percent per year. At present, fertility in Hungary is one of the lowest in Europe and, in fact, in the whole world. The Hungarian age structure will, moreover, become increasingly problematic as the fertile age group of the population continues to shrink.
Significantly, as this paper shows, Hungary was the first country in Europe after the Second World War in which the level of fertility declined far below a level of simple replacement of the population, which is conventionally measured as less than 2.1 births per woman. Since 1981 the population has been declining by about 0.15-0.20 percent per year. At present, fertility in Hungary is one of the lowest in Europe and, in fact, in the whole world. The Hungarian age structure will, moreover, become increasingly problematic as the fertile age group of the population continues to shrink.
Problems of Masculinities in Contemporary Hungarian Romantic Comedies
Cultural Studies/ArtsThis paper, based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis (using data-driven methods and textual examination) will discuss changing trends in post-2000 Hungarian romantic comedies, with a particular focus on two topics: the ambivalent portrayal of masculinity, and how and to what extent the stories are embedded in the local socio-cultural milieu. Scholarly discussions of contemporary Hungarian romantic film comedies usually highlight two distinct features. On the one hand, these films target male (and not female) audiences (which is the global trend), and on the other, the milieu they depict is the upper-middle-class, cosmopolitan world of the entertainment / creative industries. While the first claim highlights the difference in local characteristics from the global trends, the second emphasizes the lack of local specificities. The paper assumes that while the male protagonists of the Hungarian romantic comedies of the 2000s were characterized by a duality of hegemonic masculinity and uncertainty, the heroes of the films of the 2010s are inherently more ambivalent figures, whose character development and self-seeking journey is more hesitant. The analysis will examine what factors might be responsible for these changes in the representation of masculinity in Hungarian romantic comedies, and how these romcoms (and their evolution) can be related to the local social and cultural climate.
Professional Development Session: Publishing a Monograph (Panel)
Cultural Studies/ArtsThis Professional Development Panel Discussion on Publishing a Monograph is proposed as part of AHEA’s new Early Career Scholars Network programming. In this panel discussion, scholars will share their experiences in book publishing. After a brief introduction by the moderator, each panelist will speak for 10-15 minutes. A Question and Answer session will follow, and during this time all panelists will have the opportunity to answer audience questions based on their relevant experiences. Topics of discussion will include: advice on selecting and approaching an editor or scholarly press, how to choose a topic of interest to publishers, the steps of the book publication process (initial conversations with editors, proposal development and submission, acceptance, revision, marketing, etc.), as well as other related topics, such as working with a translator, obtaining and documenting permissions to publish documents from archives, applying for subventions, etc. As a supplement to the discussion, a book publishing resource guide will be distributed to the session participants. The session is intended to benefit scholars in graduate school or less than ten years out of their doctoral programs who have questions about writing a first book, however, middle- and later-career scholars might also benefit from the discussion and contribute to it by sharing their own experiences in the Q&A session.
Public Perception of NATO in the Visegrád States
History/Political ScienceAt the 2025 AHEA conference in Pécs, I presented a paper on the political debate surrounding Hungary’s NATO accession and the evolution of public perceptions of the Alliance in Hungary over the past 25 years. During my research, I considered it important to make international comparisons of values, and I noticed that even within the former Eastern Bloc countries, perceptions of NATO are not necessarily similar. Some opinion polls revealed surprising results, showing significant differences between countries in similar geopolitical positions. In my presentation, I intend to expand upon my previous project by including the other three Visegrád Group members (Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic), and examine the historical, social and political factors that may influence perceptions of NATO through comparative analysis. The topic requires a holistic approach in understanding the different levels of security, the application of IR theories (especially constructivism), and social psychology. This research could be of interest and relevance not only to Central Europeans, but also to Western NATO members who seek to understand the attitude of the Visegrád states towards NATO. In order to conduct my research, I was awarded the Steven Béla Várdy and Ágnes Huszár Várdy Legacy Scholarship in 2025, and I would like to outline the results of this project during the presentation.
Pushing the Boundaries of Hungary: Fostering Hungarian Dance in North America and Japan
Music/FolkloreHungarian dance has often acted as an ambassador for Hungary, but it has also functioned as a stand in for Hungarian culture and a way of life. Earlier in the 20th century, dance was a part of Hungarian celebrations and a range of arts and experiences put together by immigrants in various countries to build a sense of identity and connection to a life left far away. Communities in as different places as Australia, Argentina, Ohio, and Montreal found commonality in dances of a village life they hadn’t personally led presented in a style heavily influenced by the Moiseyev model, nonetheless reflecting a Hungarian identity.
With the advent of the Táncház movement in 1972, these groups were reenergized by a connection to communities for which dance was an active part of life and a marker of personality. Unexpected similarities to how young Hungarians in North America used dance within their cultural circles and new opportunities for self-expression presented by the introduction of improvisation, as well as the opportunity to experience contemporary village life presented by dance camps in Transylvania, aided a sense of fluid borders, as has the outreach of the recent Kőrösi Csoma Sándor program.
As a corollary to the border expansion of Hungary into North America through dance connections, this paper also cites the growth of a Hungarian dance culture in Japan, much through the outreach of individuals such as Sándor Timár, and the enthusiastic assimilation of Hungarian dance by a people responding to its charms.
With the advent of the Táncház movement in 1972, these groups were reenergized by a connection to communities for which dance was an active part of life and a marker of personality. Unexpected similarities to how young Hungarians in North America used dance within their cultural circles and new opportunities for self-expression presented by the introduction of improvisation, as well as the opportunity to experience contemporary village life presented by dance camps in Transylvania, aided a sense of fluid borders, as has the outreach of the recent Kőrösi Csoma Sándor program.
As a corollary to the border expansion of Hungary into North America through dance connections, this paper also cites the growth of a Hungarian dance culture in Japan, much through the outreach of individuals such as Sándor Timár, and the enthusiastic assimilation of Hungarian dance by a people responding to its charms.
