The Geopolitical Situation of Hungary Before 1990

1. The Geopolitical Situation of Hungary Before 1990

2. What is Geopolitics? • Geographical position: - Absolute: Country's location on the globe - Relative: Position in relation to other countries • Geopolitical position: A country's place in international relations and politics • Changes in geopolitical position influenced by global, continental, regional and domestic developments

3. Geopolitical Context of Europe After WWII • Bipolar global world order = A divided Europe • Socialist and capitalist economic and political system • Two opposing military blocs • Ratification of the Salt I agreement and the Helsinki Declaration led to the end of the opposition → eventually led to disintegration of the Soviet Union

4. Transformations of Hungary's Geopolitical Position • 20th century: changed state boundaries = changed regional status • After WW II Hungary became part of the socialist bloc: - Questioned in 1956 – failed revolution - Questioned again from the late 80s - 1991: regained sovereignty • Western orientation: - Joined NATO (1999) - Joined EU (2004)

5. Hungary's Geopolitical Position in the Soviet Alliance System • Determined by the relationship between the US and the Soviet Union: Scope of action for small countries greatly reduced • Hungary integral part of the SU's power and economic structure: - Comecon (1949): economic cooperation - Warsaw Pact (1955): military treaty • „Happiest barrack”: After the 60s foreign policy focused on reducing tension in IR

6. Hungary Within the European Transformation Process • Hungary had little influence over the course of actions • End of the 80s paved the way for a more critical reaction to politics, culture and the state of society • Relations to neighbouring socialist countries in the 80s were not without problems

7. Political Opening • From 1986 pluralistic associations and organizations founded within limits of constitution: - Some were members of the People's Front - Some were independent (Alliance of Young Democrats (FIDESZ), Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ)): Functioned as parties • New demands concerning international position: i.e.: 'Back to Europe', 'United Hungarian nation'.

8. 1989 • Iron curtain dismantled in February • Programmes and declarations of parties involved rethinking of country's alliances - Warsaw Pact? - Comecon? • Reform = minimal aim • Exit and neutrality = maximum (with dissolvation of both NATO and Warsaw Pact. New collective European security system

9. Hungary's Realignment • March 1990: agreement on complete withdrawal of Soviet troops • 1990 election campaign raised questions of foreign policy orientation and the country's neutrality • Democratic changes in European socialist countries rewrote previous economic, political, military structures (collapse of Warsaw Treaty, Comecon)

10. Regional Changes • Disintegration of socialist federation, increasing number of independent states • State building process in neighbouring countries uncertain • Slovakia, Ukraine, Croatia, Slovenia less influence, Hungary more • V4 formed in 1990 (regional cooperation was not possible in the bipolar world order)

11. Global Political Integration • Country established relations with integration organizations in Western Europe • Accession to EU and NATO priority - Conscious preparation for EU integration - Civil war in Former Yugoslavia accelerated NATO accession • Integration changed the political situation and security policies, however West didn't have political strategy to overcome historical traumas → led to cyclically repeating conflict