Perception and Reality : the vision of America in Hungary over the last two centuries

Type of Abstract (select): Individual Presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
The rather utopian image of a strange, abundant and free new state over the ocean, called United
States of America has experienced significant transformations and distortions in narrative and
perception over the last half century in Hungary as well as among the Hungarians living in the
Carpathean-basin. The intellectual idolization of the ’New World’ had started from a rather revolting
and inspiring road-diary written by a seemingly unknown Hungarian traveler, a self-educated scholar
from Transylvania named Sándor (Alexander) Bölöni Farkas. Shortly after his book Travels in North
America was published first in 1834, Bölöni Farkas actually ignited a spiritual revolution in the early
19th century Hungary. Naturally, the alarmingly reformist books of Bölöni Farkas and that of Aléxis
de Tocqueville, too, were soon after restricted or shadow-banned by the Habsburg authorities. The
image of America as the haven of freedom and democracy persisted and shone even brighter
through the 20th century among the Hungarians, especially at the time of the flight of ’48-er
veterans, and Kossuth’s campaign in the USA up until the descent of the Iron Curtain and, then the
dawn of the American era after the fall of the ’Red Block’ in 1990. However, the 21st century ushered
in a paradigm shift in mentality and political views, with the looming demise and gradual tarnishing
of the image of „ideal” American democracy among Hungarians.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Zsolt Csutak (PhD) is a lecturer of English and civilizational studies, as well as an externally affiliated university researcher and policy analyst of US foreign and security policies at UPS-Ludovika Univeristy, Budapest. He holds a doctorate in international security studies, and MA degree in American and Political Studies from the University of Szeged. Zsolt has a special multi-disciplinary interest in analyzing global issues and new phenomena, such as the various challenges imposed by the rise of new technologies on culture, and education. He had traveled around 50 different countries, so far and spent some highly rewarding months with academic scholarships in universities in France, Finland, the Phillipines and the United States.