Peter Techet (University for Continuing Education Krems / Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe)
The Hungarian Constitution (Basic Law) declares that Hungary lost its sovereignty between 1944 and 1989, implying that the actions during this period cannot be attributed to the Hungarian state. This is a tactic to deny Hungarian participation in the Holocaust and Communism. This state policy is scientifically supported by several institutions and symbolically reinforced by monuments. In his paper, the author analyses how the Hungarian state’s memory politics portrays the periods of German and Russian occupation as “foreign rule”, thereby negating Hungarian responsibility. The focus is on the historical perspective presented by the Museum “House of Terror”, which scientifically supports this narrative. Hungarian non-responsibility for the Holocaust is also represented in a monument that depicts the Holocaust solely in the context of German occupation, despite the Hungarian state’s active participation in the deportation of Jews. In contrast, alternative performances, “living monuments”, have formed in front of the controversial monument, making the site an interesting meeting point for different memory politics.
The presentation will cover: (1) the official Hungarian memory politics, as also laid down in the Constitution, (2) the narratives used in this context, (3) the institutional structure that scientifically supports this narrative, (4) and the non-governmental counter-initiatives from the civil society.