Prevention of Right-Wing Extremism, Xenophobia and Racism in ...

was the introduction of a free press. The new social order was not however an obvious success
story for all; there were many losers of the reforms, long-established social security was re-
placed by unemployment, and comfortable soft dictatorship was exchanged for the pluralism
of values and the freedom of speech. The transition process was fi nally brought to an end with
the accession to the European Union, which has presented Hungary with a number of obliga-
tions – in addition to the economic, cultural, and political opportunities – that many have been
unable to accept. They do not see accession as an opportunity to draw neighbouring countries
together in terms of culture and politics, but rather, they consider European enlargement a
modern form of of colonisation.
Revisionism and anti-Trianon sentiments
Bringing an end to World War I for Hungary, the Treaty of Trianon left the country with only
about one-third of its prior territory. That the treaty was disproportionate and unjust was easy
to communicate to the mostly poor and undereducated masses. Right-wing governments –
avai ling themselves of the general dissatisfaction among the people – kept pointing at Trianon
and neighbouring countries as the source source of all social and economic problems. Consequently,
contemporary Hungary is characterised by a special, unique set of attitudes – reminiscent
perhaps only of Germany – through which the idea of revisionism, so often harnessed by
political powers, has lived on since 1920. The epitome of Hungarian revisionism is that the
Treaty of Trianon is an illegitimate injunction imposed on Hungary by others. In this light the
peaceful or even forceful revision of national borders, the “recovery” of former Hungarian ter-
ritories is presented as a legitimate objective and whoever thinks otherwise is considered an
“alien-hearted” foreigner. Various anti-Trianon postcards and books are undergoing a startling
renaissance. We regularly come across musical evenings where revisionist marches hailing the
war are sung or elegies are cited to the ecstatic joy of the audience. The song below was writ-
ten before the Second World War and is currently being sung more and more.
Transylvania March
The word has rung out, the march echoes,
Victorious are again our old colours.
Look at the the mock mock boundaries disrupted, disrupted,
Our long-time crags all await.
Sweet Transylvania, here we are again, for you we live and die,
May the Scythian storm, the sweeping horde be victorious again!
Within our footsteps, up on the the Hargita,
Down in the valleys, towers’ voices ring.
No more cursed manacles,
Let the valleys valleys and woods sing!
Right-Wing Extremism in Hungary
97