A trobriandi krikettől... - Magyar Elektronikus Könyvtár ...

young people were the most sceptical about the possible outcomes, only some of them
mentioned any positive expectations. Let us start with the hopes, then turn to scepticism.
„EU: yes. It guarantees a West-European standard of life. It means a more liberal way of life,
an other kind of thinking. Without EU it would take more decades to reach that level. My life
will be really my life without instructions from outside.”
„As to economy it is questionable whether Hungary is in a position to have her own way or
whether it is necessary to join EU. I think, however, that the joining period has already
begun. The big American and European multies are in the country. That way joining EU –
just like joining NATO – is a second-best solution again.”
„Joining the EU will be a long procedure. As long as for 15-20 years after joining, migration
of labor force from Eastern-Europe will be forbidden. I shall be nearly on pension when I’ll
be allowed to go and work in Western-Europe.”
„Look at the countries in the EU! Ethnic and social conflicts in France, the Basques in Spain,
religious and cultural differences in Great Britain, which begin with Molotov cocktails and
end with baseball bats as a soft solution of the problems. I ask, are these that civilised and
highly developed countries we have to join In spite of their flourishing economy they have to
face the same problems as we do in Hungary. I do not see, how are they on a higher level
than Hungary. I agree with the Norwegians who were drunken for two days after in the
referendum they had denied to join. I understand all the pros and cons, but I do not feel like
joining EU.”
Finally, the values of neutrality and national independence were not really important for these
students and occurred only in an historical context.
„Neutrality in 1956 was a pressure from ‘real-politik’. It could not be said explicitly that we
really wanted to join NATO.”
„Replies to the different questions of life in Hungary are always directed against and not in
favour of something. Neutrality in 1956 was declared against the Russians.”
2. Group of the politically active
Members of this focus-group – three women and two men – were all professionals with
diplomas in economics, theology, and philosophy. Most of them were opposed to joining
NATO and were not very happy about joining the EU, either. Those, whose opinion were not
so sharply expressed and were from a certain point of view pro NATO, were not too glad and
emphasised our present economic, military and safety affairs.
Judgments about the NATO cannot be divided along party affiliations. Either liberal or
conservative, communist or rightist, some opinions about joining were a very definite „no”
and in this case respondents voted for neutrality. The other group of opinions can be
characterised as „yes, but”; „if, then”;” necessary, because” replies, which showed a certain
ambivalence. Obviously there is some distrust both toward NATO and EU. Therefore the
importance of neutrality was emphasised. The Hungarian historical and cultural values, the
strong will of the Hungarian people to survive and injustices toward Hungary have dominated
the argumentation. And the daily events of the war and the fear of Serbia attacking Hungary
influenced the participants’ replies, as well.
„During the reign of King Matthew, Hungary was one of the biggest powers in Europe. The
Peace Treaty of Trianon resulted in serious consequences and influenced the life of Hungary
together with that of the whole Middle-Europe. If we do not take care of us, will shall be
swept away.”
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