History/Political Science paper by Scheibner, Tamás
Research Centre for the Humanities, Institute of History, Budapest

Panel proposal: The 1956 Hungarian Refugee Crisis. I. The Post-1956 Refugee Crisis and Hungarian Émigré Communities During the Cold War: A New Project (Accepted)

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
A new project will be introduced that (1) maps and processes little explored relevant émigré archival collections, (2) synthetizes existing scholarship and links researchers in the field to enhance scholarly exchange, (3) publishes a handbook of the post-1956 refugee crisis in print and (4) extensive basic datasets on Hungarian refugees in an accessible digital format to provide further aid for researchers. (5) It also sets up an online portal that serves as a gateway to the Hungarian émigré world and invites the Hungarian diaspora to contribute on the life trajectories of former 1956 refugees with a public profile. A georeferenced (GIS) linked database of Hungarian refugees, émigré communities and related infrastructures in the Benelux states from 1956 to 1989 will be set up as a pilot project. This map- and graph-based database will visualize migration paths and general data on migrant communities; record individuals and their life stories based on currently accessible data; and register émigré institutions (organizations, publishing houses, printing presses). Introducing the project in an early stage provides an opportunity for potential users, that is scholars in Hungarian Studies, to give feedback and shape the project according to their needs. The ultimate objective is to achieve a breakthrough in the research of 1956 refugees and their international legacy and redefine the Hungarian revolution in the context of world history.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Tamás Scheibner is an Assistant Professor in Literary and Cultural Studies at Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest (ELTE), and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of History at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He deals with 20th century cultural and intellectual history. He has been Registry Manger and Executive Board Member on the project COURAGE: Cultural Opposition – Understanding the Cultural Heritage of Dissent in the Former Socialist Countries. His latest co-edited book: Conspiracy Theories in Eastern Europe: Tropes and Trends (Routledge, 2020).