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The Hungarian Way of Strategy
The Hungarian Way of Strategy offers a unique view inside government thinking from high-level Hungarian politician, Political Director to the Prime Minister of Hungary, Balázs Orbán. Drawing on extensive scholarship as well as a range of examples from history and popular culture, the author provides readers unfamiliar with Hungary’s unique geography and history an understanding of how these factors continue to shape Hungarian thinking as he explains strategic planning, national character, and debunks misconceptions fostered by Western media about the nature and aims of Hungary’s government. While countering the prevailing narrative in the West about Hungary, Balázs Orbán advocates for a Europe in which there is room to govern by principles rooted in national history and values instead of the currently hegemonic liberal consensus.
- GenresPolitics
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 25, 2024
So why is Hungary unique in being the European Union member and democracy that is resistant to western liberalism? In The Hungarian Way of Strategy, Balazs Orban, the Prime Minister’s Political Director, lists some reasons for Hungary being especially ripe for a great resistance to the global hegemony.
It is a culture that wishes not to conquer or expand its territory but only to be left alone to live in peace. It has a history of occupation, by the Ottoman Empire, the Soviet Union etc. Only fighting when required (such as the famous 1956 uprising against Soviet rule), Hungarians are unwilling to subject themselves to the experiments of mass immigration that they see disastrously failing in the West.
Sitting within the Carpathian Basin, the nation has natural geographical borders. Balazs Orban often cites the work of global correspondents Tim Marshall and Robert Kaplan, understanding the key importance of locational determinism. He also shares their sense of pessimistic realism regarding human behaviour and the repeating cycles of history.
Hungary is also united around a strong founding Christian identity, established over a thousand years ago by Saint King Stephen. This is a unifying force that many European nations now increasingly lack. Another regular theme in the book is that of Somewheres versus Anywheres. An idea explored expertly by David Goodhart’s In Search of Somewhere. Suffice to say Hungarians are generally Somewheres with roots on the land and a strong sense of nation. This places them as direct ideological opposites to the prevailing EU system of global liberalism. Instead, the contrasting phrase of ‘democratic illiberalism’ is used here to describe the Hungarian strategy.
Viktor Orban’s government has been in power since 2010, regularly taking two-thirds of the vote, this constitutes a huge mandate. Previous to this, the nation had been saddled with huge debts as part of the EU. Referendums have confirmed that Hungarians are hostile to various EU mandates.
Balazs Orban reaffirms that their country is a cohesive culture, Hungarians are of one stock and any differences are put aside for the greater whole. If called upon, they will again fight to defend their homeland but are unlikely to ever take part in invasions or wars of conquest.
On the negative side, the author has chosen to interweave copious notes among the main text. Having two narratives on the go is distracting and the notes would have been better off placed at the end of either chapters or the book proper.
It is a culture that wishes not to conquer or expand its territory but only to be left alone to live in peace. It has a history of occupation, by the Ottoman Empire, the Soviet Union etc. Only fighting when required (such as the famous 1956 uprising against Soviet rule), Hungarians are unwilling to subject themselves to the experiments of mass immigration that they see disastrously failing in the West.
Sitting within the Carpathian Basin, the nation has natural geographical borders. Balazs Orban often cites the work of global correspondents Tim Marshall and Robert Kaplan, understanding the key importance of locational determinism. He also shares their sense of pessimistic realism regarding human behaviour and the repeating cycles of history.
Hungary is also united around a strong founding Christian identity, established over a thousand years ago by Saint King Stephen. This is a unifying force that many European nations now increasingly lack. Another regular theme in the book is that of Somewheres versus Anywheres. An idea explored expertly by David Goodhart’s In Search of Somewhere. Suffice to say Hungarians are generally Somewheres with roots on the land and a strong sense of nation. This places them as direct ideological opposites to the prevailing EU system of global liberalism. Instead, the contrasting phrase of ‘democratic illiberalism’ is used here to describe the Hungarian strategy.
Viktor Orban’s government has been in power since 2010, regularly taking two-thirds of the vote, this constitutes a huge mandate. Previous to this, the nation had been saddled with huge debts as part of the EU. Referendums have confirmed that Hungarians are hostile to various EU mandates.
Balazs Orban reaffirms that their country is a cohesive culture, Hungarians are of one stock and any differences are put aside for the greater whole. If called upon, they will again fight to defend their homeland but are unlikely to ever take part in invasions or wars of conquest.
On the negative side, the author has chosen to interweave copious notes among the main text. Having two narratives on the go is distracting and the notes would have been better off placed at the end of either chapters or the book proper.
November 23, 2021
The Hungarian Way of Strategy is a riveting, tangible, and applicable read. Unlike many other books on statecraft and political theory, this author provides a practical history and framework for its application in the modern nation-state.
As a proof on how persuasive this book and its author really is, as someone who sometimes flirts with economic liberalism, I found myself being sold on systems of flat taxation, balancing the national budget, and general fiscal conservatism based on the actual results of the Hungarian economic strategy. Understanding, obviously, that the Hungarian and American economies are extremely different on scale.
This book (and its author) provide a serious and coherent response to the continued bed-wetting of the left-wing administrative class in the EU and the West, more broadly. It's extremely obvious from reading this book that Balázs Orbán is a competent, wise, and worthy administrator within the Hungarian government. I came away from reading this book pining for someone like him in our American system!
One warning while reading this from an American perspective: Put aside your own nationality, and put yourself in Hungary's shoes while reading this book. You'll find some shocking statements, for example: "China will become the world's most economically powerful country in the next decade. In addition to ensuring balanced political relations, the exploitation of dynamically growing business opportunities with China is in Hungary's national interest." Now, this is shocking to an American reader like myself, but from Hungary's perspective of doing business in the national interest, it is an understandable (even if you find yourself jealous for Hungary's economic attention) position to take to benefit Hungary's people.
If I had one gripe about this book, (and it's relatively minor, as I rated the book 5 stars) it would be that the footnotes can be a bit obtrusive. I love footnotes as a concept, and the information they contained in this book were delightful -- But I would've vastly preferred they be inserted as actual text/additional chapters and the book have been twice as long.
And to end on a sweet, positive note: This is one of the most visually-appealing books I have had the pleasure of reading. So the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but if you read this one, I promise you will be glad you did.
As a proof on how persuasive this book and its author really is, as someone who sometimes flirts with economic liberalism, I found myself being sold on systems of flat taxation, balancing the national budget, and general fiscal conservatism based on the actual results of the Hungarian economic strategy. Understanding, obviously, that the Hungarian and American economies are extremely different on scale.
This book (and its author) provide a serious and coherent response to the continued bed-wetting of the left-wing administrative class in the EU and the West, more broadly. It's extremely obvious from reading this book that Balázs Orbán is a competent, wise, and worthy administrator within the Hungarian government. I came away from reading this book pining for someone like him in our American system!
One warning while reading this from an American perspective: Put aside your own nationality, and put yourself in Hungary's shoes while reading this book. You'll find some shocking statements, for example: "China will become the world's most economically powerful country in the next decade. In addition to ensuring balanced political relations, the exploitation of dynamically growing business opportunities with China is in Hungary's national interest." Now, this is shocking to an American reader like myself, but from Hungary's perspective of doing business in the national interest, it is an understandable (even if you find yourself jealous for Hungary's economic attention) position to take to benefit Hungary's people.
If I had one gripe about this book, (and it's relatively minor, as I rated the book 5 stars) it would be that the footnotes can be a bit obtrusive. I love footnotes as a concept, and the information they contained in this book were delightful -- But I would've vastly preferred they be inserted as actual text/additional chapters and the book have been twice as long.
And to end on a sweet, positive note: This is one of the most visually-appealing books I have had the pleasure of reading. So the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but if you read this one, I promise you will be glad you did.
March 22, 2023
Direct, practical. A must read for the modern political strategist.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews