Navigating New Horizons: The 1956 Hungarian Exodus and Its Global Impact (Panel)

Type of Abstract (select): Panel Discussion

Abstract (max. 250 words):
This panel brings together three short presentations that collectively explore the aftermath and global impact of the 1956 Hungarian uprising. Each expose employs unique methodologies and focuses on different aspects of the Hungarian diaspora, yet they are united by common themes of identity, migration, and influence in the wake of upheaval.

Nóra Deák (moderator), Secretariat of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. deak.nora@titkarsag.mta.hu;

Panel:Tamás Scheibner, in "Trailblazers of Change: The Global Impact of the Rockefeller Foundation's Hungarian Refugee Scholars Program," employs biographical and historical analysis to assess the contributions of Hungarian émigré scholars. He highlights their role as cultural mediators and agents of change, significantly impacting global academia and politics.

Kinga Constantinovits' "Preserving Identity: The Hungarian Diaspora in Sydney" adopts an ethnographic approach. Utilizing oral history and archival research, it delves into the maintenance of cultural identity among Hungarian Australians. Focusing on language, traditions, and the collective memory of the 1956 revolution, this study reveals the methods employed to sustain heritage within a diasporic context.

Zsolt Máté's "Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Hungarian Participation at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics" examines the complex decisions faced by Hungarian athletes during the national upheaval. Incorporating oral-history interviews and secret service records, Máté investigates the interplay between sports, politics, and personal choices amid forced migration. Collectively, these presentations offer a multi-dimensional view of the Hungarian exodus of 1956, revealing the complex interplay between personal choices, cultural preservation, and global influence.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):

Kinga Constantinovits, Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPKE), constantinovits.kinga.katalin@hallgato.ppke.hu

Zsolt Máté, University of Pécs (PTE), mate.zsolt@pte.hu

Tamás Scheibner, HUN-REN Research Center for the Humanities and ELTE University of Budapest, scheibner.tamas@abtk.hu