The Hungarian Tragedy: A Nation Caught Between Past and Future

The Hungarian Tragedy: A Nation Caught Between Past and Future \ Newslooks \ Opinion \ By Dr. Miklos K. Radvanyi. In 1523, a Venetian official named Francesco Massaro wrote a scathing assessment of Hungary: “Generally speaking, the Hungarians are the worst species on earth.  They don’t like or respect any other nation in the world.  They don’t even like each other.  Everyone only thinks of his or her own well being.  The Hungarians steal from the public and they don’t care about the general welfare.  Among themselves, they nurture such a secret hatred and hostility that is almost unbelievable.  The Hungarians only care about debauchery and stealing from their compatriots.  In these activities they are extremely busy.  The nobility are the source of all the misery.  They hold all the power.  Yet they fight each other relentlessly.  Their tools are cunning, simulation and cheating.”

Five centuries later, those words still echo with unsettling relevance.

Since the disastrous Battle of Mohács in 1526, Hungary has lurched from crisis to crisis, often driven by internal division, misrule, and self-destructive nationalism. The post–World War I Treaty of Trianon dealt a catastrophic blow, stripping Hungary of 71% of its territory and over half its population. Rather than foster national renewal, the humiliation fueled toxic nationalism, paving the way for an alliance with Nazi Germany and later, decades of Soviet domination.

When communism finally collapsed in 1990, Hungary had a historic opportunity to build a free and prosperous democracy. But that window quickly narrowed. Lacking the political culture or institutional maturity to transition effectively, post-communist Hungary floundered—suspended between the ideals of the West and the lingering authoritarian impulses of the East.

Since 2010, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary has abandoned even the pretense of liberal democracy. Orbán’s regime, a hybrid of old-school Soviet autocracy and modern populist nationalism, has consolidated power through cronyism, corruption, and propaganda. Parliament, the courts, the media, and even the country’s elections are now tightly controlled by Orbán’s inner circle. Hungary no longer resembles a functioning democracy—it has become a “Gangsterocracy.”

This system doesn’t just fail to serve the public; it actively works against them. Healthcare is crumbling. Education is in decline. Ordinary citizens struggle to get by while the political elite enrich themselves with impunity. Orbán has surrounded himself with loyalists chosen not for their qualifications but for their obedience. As a result, the Hungarian state is incapable of meaningful reform. It lacks both the will and the competence to serve its people.

Most disturbing is the regime’s near-total destruction of any viable political opposition. By monopolizing economic resources and spinning elaborate conspiracy theories about foreign plots and internal enemies, Orbán has created a fortress of lies around his government. His so-called “illiberal democracy” is rooted in fear, revisionism, and a carefully cultivated narrative of Hungarian victimhood.

Despite his claims of defending national sovereignty, Orbán has shown open disdain for Hungary’s allies. He routinely undermines NATO, the European Union, and the United States, while cozying up to Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s China. His “neutral” foreign policy is not a principled stand—it is a calculated betrayal of the democratic values Hungary once aspired to join.

A year out from the next election, Hungary is a nation in deep political decay. What was once a hopeful post-Soviet democracy is now a paralyzed, corrupt state in thrall to a single man’s ambition. The West must understand: appeasing authoritarianism in the heart of Europe is a dangerous game. History shows that enabling tyranny—whether out of pragmatism or indifference—rarely ends well.

If the free world truly believes in the sovereignty of nations and the dignity of individuals, it must help the Hungarian people reclaim their future. One year before the next elections, Hungary is a political cesspool – a hopelessly fatigued and abnormally corrupt country.  The United States of America and its allies in NATO and in the European Union must union must understand that accommodating evil never ends well.  Uncompromising global assistance for reclaiming the lost hope of the Hungarian people for their sovereignty is a must for the Free World.

The Hungarian Tragedy-The Hungarian Tragedy

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