Hungary in the Soviet zone of occupation

This year’s issue Nr. 8 of the periodical História edited by Ferenc Glatz is available. This latest issue includes an article by the editor-in-chief presenting the basic principles underlying the recently initiated new book series entitled Magyarország a szovjet zónában és a rendszerváltásban, 1945-1990 (Hungary in the Soviet zone of occupation and during the system change, 1945-1990).

The present state and future of far-away farmsteads

The third issue of the periodical Párbeszéd a vidékért (Dialogue for the Countryside) has been published, its main focus being the future of far-away farmsteads. The issue included among others an article by Ferenc Glatz entitled Tanyás települések, térségek a magyar és európai vidékpolitikában (Farmstead settlements and regions in the rural policy of Hungary and Europe). You can also read a report by Glatz on a meeting of decision-makers and experts specialised in the field of rural policy in border regions, which was summoned for the first time in Székelyhíd (Vidékpolitika és kisebbségpolitika összekapcsolása - Interconnecting rural policy and minority policy). His third publication in the above issue is a proposal on the aims, tasks and structure of the Hungarian National Rural Network.

Honorary citizen of the Róbert Károly College

In acknowledgement of his scientific work and his active participation in supporting the distance learning programme of the institution, Ferenc Glatz was awarded the title of honorary citizen of the Róbert Károly College. The awarding ceremony took place on 9 November 2009 on the Róbert Károly Science Day in the framework of the conference Sustainable development at times of economic crisis. In the festive speech that Ferenc Glatz presented upon receiving the title he listed arguments in favour of including aspects of social sciences in agriculture. He referred to the significance of three factors: 1. The vast array of changes that took place in the past few years cannot be evaluated without historical knowledge. 2. The regional approach is absolutely necessary for agricultural science, one has to know the human and natural environment, in which the actors of agricultural production exist. 3. The so-called human factor must be devoted much more attention to that so far.

Practical allergology – from the perspective of a historian

In the central building of the Semmelweis Medical University at Nagyvárad Square, Ferenc Glatz reflected upon science historical and science theoretical issues while presenting the new textbook of the university „Gyakorlati allergológia (Practical allergology) edited by Erzsébet Temesvári and Sarolta Kárpáti. Afterwards András Falus, Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences spoke about the merits and significance of the book.

Minority policy and Europe – state of affairs and perspectives

Accepting the invitation of Ferenc Glatz the leaders of three major alliances of Hungarians living beyond the borders of Hungary – Pál Csáky (Hungarian Coalition Party), Béla Markó (Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania) and István Pásztor (Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians) gathered for negotiation for the second time in Budapest on 12 October. Hungarian MEPs responsible for minority issues (Kinga Gál, Csaba Tabajdi) were also invited for the workshop. The meeting was meant to provide a forum for politicians and researchers to discuss the results of minority policy-making after the system change, the possibilities emerging by EU membership and the renewal of minority policy by involving departmental policy issues.

Folk art, system change and rural policy

The advisory board of the specified Folk Art branch of the Pro Renovanda Cultura Hungariae foundation and Ferenc Glatz, president of the Hungarian National Rural Network invited folk art experts and folk artists who have been awarded the Zoltán Kodály Prize in the past 20 years to Tiszakécske. The participants discussed the current state, problems and future of folk art in Hungary. The host of the event was Miklós Kovács, acknowledged Master of Folk Art and a laureate of the Pro Cultura foundation, who spoke about the profession of blue dyeing and showed his own workshop. Ferenc Glatz gave a speech on the relationship of folk art and rural policy and urged the removal of Hungarian folk art from its current ‘folk ghetto’, the village museum.

Preparations on the Rural Forum to be held in Szabadka

The first annual programme of the Hungarian National Rural Network includes the initiative to connect rural policy with the policy on Hungarians living in the neighbouring states, thus promoting economically and culturally the areas settled by Hungarians on both sides of the border. The programme was initiated by Ferenc Glatz who accepted the invitation of István Pásztor, President of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians to visit Szabadka. During the discussion the delegates agreed to organize the first conference on cross-border rural development (National Rural Forum) in Szabadka. Although it is situated outside the borders of the European Union, there is a well-functioning rural network in Vojvodina operating in accordance with EU-standards (led by Tivadar Bunford). This network may offer useful insights and experience for Hungarian experts on rural development. The forum is planned for the end of November 2009.

MA-Specialization launched at Eötvös-Loránd-University

In the framework of the MA-specialization programme offered to history majors at the Eötvös-Loránd-University Ferenc Glatz held the opening lecture entitled “Introduction to the history and institutions of European integration”. The MA-specialization programme can be regarded as a unique endeavour in Hungary with regard to the complexity of the subject matter and the teaching material, but also internationally it counts as gap-filling in terms of its broad perspective. The courses are held by Ferenc Glatz, the initiator of the MA-specialization, Zoltán Szász, Attila Pók, László Csorba, Tibor Dömötörfi – all of them being research fellows of the Institute for History of HAS – as well as Lilla Krász, associate professor at the university and responsible for the organization of the MA-programme. The Europe Institute Budapest as a private endowment takes on itself free of charge the organisation and management of the educational programme held on the premises of the Institute situated on the campus of the university.

Senator Dr. Dr. Herbert Batliner visits Budapest

Senator Dr. Dr. Herbert Batliner, co-founder of Europe Institute Budapest – who this year has celebrated his 80^th  birthday – visited Budapest to meet the leaders and colleagues of the institute. Ferenc Glatz welcomed the Senator from Liechtenstein in the new office of the institute, being situated in the recently renovated building complex on the campus of Eötvös-Loránd-University. Amidst a friendly atmosphere the scientific programme and the research topics of the preceding years, as well as the recently started academic programme on European Studies, and the present situation of young researchers was discussed.

II. Farmers’ Day of Rábaköz

The local government of Kapuvár and the Alliance of Agrarian Employers in Hungary organised on 28-30 August, 2009 for the second time the Farmers’Day of Rábaköz. Among the participants of the event were guests arriving from Burgenland and Slovakia and the producers, exhibitors and farmers of the nearby regions. Also present were Sándor Font, President of the Committee for Agriculture of the Hungarian Parliament, and Zoltán Gőgös, State Secretary of the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development. Ferenc Glatz in his opening speech held on the first day of the event spoke about the importance of applying a new perspective in our thinking about locality, local society and globalism; we have to concede that the development of local societies is an issue of common interest. Rural development does not exclusively serve the aims of the people living in the countryside; and exactly because of its common benefit should receive high-priority support.