national populism and slovak – hungarian relations in - MEK

Time for Hungarian–Slovak Dialoguecannot make any excuses or blame anybody else. Consequently, it is solelyup to people who make up the Hungarian nation whether they strive toreconcile with their neighbours at the beginning of the 21 st century; alongthe same lines, it is up to the Slovaks whether they decide to establishnational reconciliation with the Hungarians. Many players would like tointervene with this decision-making; however, in our period they cannotprevent information on their efforts from reaching both countries’ citizens.Both countries’ leading political representatives would certainly viewsuch a process with suspicion and would probably try to thwart it. In compliancewith their own system of values, some of them would perceive itpurely ideologically and would understand it as a propagandistic attack ontheir own authority just because they themselves maintain influence throughpropaganda that is a combination of aggressive ideologies. In other words,the project’s failure would benefit or at least suit many. Nevertheless, muchis to be achieved. For one, most ordinary people would like to supportnational reconciliation and they will if they are given an opportunity. Fortwo, government is not the only channel to appeal to the population of ademocratic European state; if there is a will, there are many other ways toconvey a message to inhabitants of a neighbouring country.Hungary’s political community including politicians and various interestgroups with different value systems may reach a consensus regarding thisissue by, for instance, extracting the reconciliation issue from the categoryof domestic political issues and making it a nationwide objective. Quitefrankly, any other strategy would hardly seem viable. It is difficult to imaginea neighbouring country reaching a constitutional consensus over its ethnicHungarians if Hungary itself is unable to reach such a consensus. In nocountry do changes in the value system happen overnight. It is obvious thattangible results may only be achieved through relentless endeavour thatspans a number of electoral terms. Hopefully, Hungary’s political communityalong with its leaders may just agree to embark on the said task.The constitutional consensus over the issue of ethnic Hungarians wouldnot only benefit Hungarian minorities in neighbouring countries as it wouldessentially affect also the national identity of Hungarians living inHungary. An issue that may not significantly affect everyday existence ofaverage Hungarian citizens but nevertheless forms an important part of theirconcept of the nation’s future would simply be lifted from the frontline ofdomestic political battles and elevated among values and objectives that aresubscribed to and often publicly presented by political parties as well as governmentleaders. This would amount to renaissance of the constitutional consensusregarding one of principal issues of the Hungarian nation’s future.National Populism and Slovak – Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006 – 2009. Forum Minority Research Institute Šamorín – Somorja, 2009259