Hungary’s strategy for connectivity

From the rise of China and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to more independent middle and regional powers – our global political order is rapidly changing. But what is Hungary’s position in this increasingly multipolar world? 

In this week’s episode, Mark Leonard is joined by Balázs Orbán, the political director of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán. (They are not related.) Balázs is also the chair of the board at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium and in 2021 wrote a book called “The Hungarian Way of Strategy”, in which he describes the country’s “strategy of connectivity”. How does the European Union fit into this vision? And what kind of relationship does Hungary expect to have with Russia when the war eventually comes to an end? 

This podcast was recorded on 20 March 2023.  

Bookshelf: 

• The Hungarian Way of Strategy by Balázs Orbán 
• Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy by Henry Kissinger 

• Nationale Interessen: Orientierung für deutsche und europäische Politik in Zeiten globaler Umbrüche by Klaus von Dohnanyi