Hungary started an unprecedented campaign in the United States to bring Orbán’s xenophobic, homophobic, racist and anti-Semitic message to US audiences. His government is isolated in the US due to Orbán’s pro-Putin and pro-China stand. No active American politician (republican or democrat) would support him publicly.
Budapest now relies on a small, “fringe” group of conservative individuals and organizations to deliver the message.
On Friday, October 29 a book event took place at Gowan Hall Auditorium, The Catholic University of America, Washington DC.
Mr. Balázs Orbán introduced his book entitled The Hungarian Way Of Strategy. The recently-translated book is a collection of “historical, political, and philosophical analysis” and presents “a glimpse into the strategy that lies behind the policies of the current Hungarian government, and offers some thoughts on the long-term prospects of Hungary as well as the broader West.” Orbán claims that the West had lost its appeal to Central Europeans.
The lecture was followed by a panel discussion featuring The American Conservative’s Sohrab Ahmari and Helen Andrews along with Daniel McCarthy of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
From left Hungary’s Ambassador to Washington Szabolcs Takács, Balázs Orbán with his book, Daniel McCarthy, Helen Andrews and Sohrab Ahmari
The young Balázs Orbán is a Junior Minister and a close advisor to PM Viktor Orbán (no relation). He is a “lawyer, political scientist, and politician who serves as Political Director to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Minister of State to the Prime Minister’s Office. He is also the chairman of the board at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), Hungary’s leading talent management institution and knowledge center, and he leads the advisory board of the Ludovika – University of Public Service.”
The American Conservative is the brainchild of Rod Dreher who was a fellow at the Balázs run Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC). (read more here) Sohrab Ahmari, an Iranian who converted Catholicism, and Helen Andrews both work for Dreher.
Hungary is a small country and now spends tremendous amount of money on propaganda. As the New York Times recently noted Orbán fights criticism in the United States via vast influence campaign and “has spent millions on lobbying, support for think tanks and cultivating allies in Washington.”
At this point, it is not clear if Budapest’s new US propaganda strategy is successful. Viktor Orbán recently lost one of his long-time supporters, ex-Governor of New York State, George Pataki who has Hungarian ancestry.
Mr. Balázs also introduced a carefully crafted video to US audiences. Here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Click here: Facebook
György Lázár
