Flip, then flop: on Hungary’s opening to the East

... and its exports to Germany (accounting for one-third of the total) on the other, the country needs to balance its relations with East and West. Its membership in the EU and NATO and its principally zapadnik culture tie it to Europe. Cooperation with Russia was pursued on a pragmatic basis by previous Hungarian governments, appalling the right-wing Fidesz opposition. But upon being sworn into office, they took a U-turn. Claiming to work for a ‘friendship’ with Russia, they are going a lot further than their predecessors. There is hardly a change of conscience to account for the party’s ...