Politics of the past: the use and abuse of history - Socialists ...

Way forward
The idea of the nation state, which in public opinion since 1989
is commensurate with national exclusivity, is also present in both
nations but to differing extents and manifesting itself in different
ways. In a region of European integration and the gradual abolition
of the prohibitive nature of borders, economic, cultural, and everyday
contact and common regional development still collide with
obsolete nation-state reflexes and rules. In such circumstances
promising cultural cooperation between Hungary and Slovakia and
the mediatory power of the two minorities will only slowly break
down the barbed-wire fences of uncertainty. It can help develop
the political atmosphere that is necessary for cooperation between
the two states, but only gradually. It is extremely important to encourage
steps towards mutual acknowledgement of the value of
the respective minority languages. Their prestige needs to be enhanced,
by abolishing restrictive language laws and encouraging
and institutionalising education in both languages.
As can be seen from the above, Hungarian-Slovak relations at the
beginning of the 21st century paint a very odd picture. There are almost
limitless opportunities for regional, cross-border, economic
cooperation. In practice, the main obstacles for cross-border
contacts are the financial constraints of individuals and institutions.
By restricting and rejecting especially the self-government rights
of minorities, the current Slovak elite approaches the integration
processes – which are unstoppable within the European Union –
with fear and uncertainty. On the other hand, many Hungarians are
inclined to regard the integration process as a kind of historical
reparation and the modern version of national unification. Hungarian
and Slovak analyses and the behaviour of the cultural, scientific and
political elites on both sides still indicate the distance rather than
the direction of their approach. The age difference between the two
states is doubtless a very strong element of this, while the governing
elites can hardly be said to have equally well developed systems
of contact.
Historical research in both countries must confront the failure and
counter-productivity of historical interpretations that lead nowhere.
Bearing a realistic history of the nation in mind, it is possible that a
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