Synopses & Reviews
How has Hungary, a country once understood as the vanguard of postcommunist political and economic reforms, become the chilling example of the new threats now destabilizing democracies across Central Europe? The unwelcome return of Hungary's long-buried demons -- nationalism, ethnic hatred, deeply rooted corruption, and authoritarian tendencies -- has raised legitimate concerns internationally. Since winning a two-thirds majority in parliament in the spring of 2010, right-wing populist prime minister Viktor Orban has embarked on a sweeping and ruthless concentration of power and has sought to reshape the state according to the principles of his own private vision.
A new constitution, along with a vast series of laws and decrees that include radical changes in the judicial and electoral system and the dismantling of constitutional safeguards protecting the autonomy of the executive branch and the media, seem destined to ensure the long-term hegemony of the far right. Meanwhile, a campaign of vituperative nationalistic rhetoric and the likelihood of granting new voting rights to two and a half million ethnic Hungarians living in Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia are inreasing tensions in this volatile corner of Europe. Paul Lendvai provides an unsparing and dispassionate look at these developments, grounding his study in his intimate knowledge of Hungary's major political figures and political culture. He also makes use of his unique insight into the aftermath of the fall of the communism, which not only changed Hungary but also produced new political and social tensions in the Danube basin.