IRE217 Introduction to Hungarian foreign policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
András Schweitzer, Ph.D. (lecturer), doc. Vratislav Havlík, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. Vratislav Havlík, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 23. 3. 16:00–17:40 U33, 18:00–19:40 U23, Tue 24. 3. 16:00–17:40 P24, 18:00–19:40 P21, Wed 25. 3. 8:00–9:40 U23, 10:00–11:40 U43, Thu 26. 3. 16:00–19:40 P21, Fri 27. 3. 8:00–11:40 U42
Prerequisites
To be able to read materials in English
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 35 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/35, only registered: 0/35
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 34 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to equip the students with the necessary knowledge and skills to evaluate foreign policy options available to the Hungarian political elite at different times; and the cultural, social, economic and internal political background of specific steps actually taken.
Learning outcomes
Students should become acquainted with the major turning points in contemporary Hungarian diplomatic history; acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to evaluate foreign policy options available to the Hungarian political elite at different times; to be able to reflect on persistent and recurring ideas that formulated Hungarian foreign policy, and to understand the cultural, social, economic and internal political background of specific policy steps actually taken.
Syllabus
  • The course will be taught online April 20-24. Further instructions by email! Session I. General ideas of Hungarian identity and the beginnings of Hungarian foreign policy (-1920) 1. Introduction: What (and since when) is “Hungarian” foreign politics? The idea of Hungarian uniqueness, of the eternal westward travel, of being pagan, of being Turkic vs Finno-Ugric, of being Christian-European. The idea of the “1000 years kingdom”. The twin-ideas of wars of independence and compromise. Required reading: István Deák. The revolutionary tradition in Hungary and the lessons of the 1956 struggle for independence. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 20 (2006), No. 1. 2. The case for participation in the Great War. (How) could Austria-Hungary have been saved? The Károlyi-government and the pacifist option. The Hungarian Soviet Republic and the idea of global Socialist revolution Required reading: Peter Pastor. Major trends in Hungarian foreign policy from the collapse of the monarchy to the peace treaty of Trianon. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 17. (2003), No. 1. Session II. Sovereignty, tragedy, Conservatism, Fascism Hungarian style (1920-1945) 3. The Trianon-trauma in Hungarian national consciousness. Horthy-era: (Alternatives to) alliance with Germany. Required reading: Pál Pritz. Hungarian foreign policy in the interwar period. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 17. (2003), No. 1. 4. The “swing-politics” of the Kállay government, and the (non-)option for “quitting”. Szálasi and the idea of “persistence”. Soviet liberation or occupation? Required reading: Nándor Dreisziger. The long shadow of Trianon: Hungarian alliance policies during world war II. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 17. (2003), No. 1. Session III. Hungary, Soviet-style (1945-1989) 5. Foreign policy considerations in times of limited sovereignty. Foreign policy implications of the 1956 revolution and the neutrality attempt of Imre Nagy Required reading: Lászlo Borhi. Hungary in the Soviet empire 1945-1956. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 20 (2006), No. 1. 6. János Kádár and gulash communism. Economic reform (the “happiest barrack”) and military intervention (“the reluctant ally) in 1968 Required reading: Andrew Felkay. Hungarian foreign policy in the Kádár era. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 17. (2003), No. 1. Session IV. Towards the west, and the Hungarian return of history (1989-) 7. System change, orientation change, the triple foreign policy priority, fundamental treaties, NATO- and EU-accession Required reading: András Simonyi. Hungarian foreign policy on the threshold of the new millennium. Hungarian Studies, Vol. 17. (2003), No. 1. 8. System of National Cooperation, “eastern opening”, “Stop Brussels”, and the “peacock dance” Required reading: András Bozóki & Dániel Hegedűs: An externally constrained hybrid regime: Hungary in the European Union. Democratization, Vol. 25 (2018), No. 7.
Literature
  • Romsics, Ignác. 20th century Hungary and the great powers. Boulder, Col. : Social Science Monographs, New York : Columbia University Press, 1995
  • Crampton, R. J. Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century and after. 2nd ed. London ; New York: Routledge, 1997.
Teaching methods
Lectures involve class discussions and require active participation of students. Readings serve to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures. The composition of an essay aims to improve the analytical skills of students.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Students are required to prepare for classes by reading the relevant assigned texts, and to attend classes and actively participate in the debates.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2019.
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