Full course description
Course Introduction
This course will provide you with the basic knowledge you need to understand Hungary’s place in Europe and its relationship with select world powers. It covers Hungary’s recent history as a state behind the Iron Curtain led by János Kádár, and the period of economic and political “transition” of the 1990s after the Berlin Wall fell. It discusses Hungary’s place in the European Union since 2004 and the tradition of domestic government corruption that has since plagued the country. This course will introduce you to Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, his domestic policy, and quickly outline his relationship with China, Poland, and Russia—three countries in which Hungary has special interest.
Learning Outcomes
Participants in this course will be able to:
- Recognize major political parties and figures in Hungary
- Demonstrate familiarity with the central relations between Hungary and the European Union, and between Hungary and three states: China, Poland, and Russia
- Describe the concept of “illiberal democracy” and central mechanisms of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic governing system
Meet the Instructor
Jessica Storey-Nagy is a PhD candidate in Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University Bloomington. She is a linguistic anthropologist and area studies specialist who studies political discourse and culture in contemporary Hungary.
For more information, contact Jessica Storey-Nagy