Public Perception of NATO in the Visegrád States

Type of Abstract (select): Individual Presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
At 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.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Péter Hevő is an assistant professor at the Department of International Relations and European Studies, Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. He received his Ph.D. in History from the same university in 2019. His research interests include diplomacy, German foreign policy, and contemporary political history with a focus on East-Central Europe. He has held fellowships in Berlin, München, Potsdam, Heidelberg, Vienna, Washington, D.C. and Prague. He is also an editor of the online history journal, Újkor.hu, and author of the monograph Vissza a fegyverekhez? A hadsereg és külpolitika kapcsolata az újraegyesített Németországban.