This blog is provided by the Common Sense Society of Budapest as an online, English-language platform for the publication and exchange of diverse and differing perspectives about Hungarian politics, economy, and culture. The views represented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CSS. The Common Sense Society does not receive funding from any government entity or political party.
The competition has grabbed the attention of the international fashion industry. High-standard everyday clothing combined with traditional Hungarian costume elements was a hit at home and abroad, reflecting a renaissance of Hungarian folk style.
While all opposition parties agree that it takes a coalition of parties to unseat the Orbán government in the next parliamentary elections, they are much too divided to cooperate. Torn by internal conflicts, the opposition parties have not been able to present credible leaders and alternatives to the government’s policy.
It’s a love-hate relationship since European philosophers desire the wealth that U.S. capitalism represents, but without any negative repercussions.
The uneven and politicized manner in which the EU has approached Hungary has become the modus operandi for the EU, an institution that must rely on the few sticks in its arsenal since the carrots have withered away.
Jumping on the bandwagon of Hungary’s critics, postmodern architect and designer László Rajk recently launched his artistic analysis of the new Hungarian Constitution in Germany. His exhibition in Berlin’s Academy of Fine Arts (ADK) entitled “Missing Paragraphs” featured excerpts of the previous Hungarian Constitution on white canvas which, in his interpretation, are missing from the [...]
Parts of the new Basic Law negatively affect the lives of LGBT Hungarian citizens and crush the hopes of many young Hungarians to have a family of their own in Hungary. The government should support LGBT rights, not to satisfy liberal critics, but for the future of Hungarian society.
A few excerpts from Marion Smith’s article on NRO yesterday: Writing in the Washington Post last week, former U.S. ambassador to Hungary Mark Palmer, [Charles] Gati, and another émigré professor, Miklos Haraszti, argue that the state of Hungarian democracy is dire and that Radio Free Europe (RFE) must recommence the type of broadcasts it made into [...]
The Hungarian Parliament voted last week to grant official recognition or “church status” to 18 religious denominations, in addition to the 14 already recognized churches as defined by the country’s new religion law. Now Hungary will have a greater number of state sponsored churches (32) than most European countries. At the same time, active religious [...]
