Collective Guilt – Collective Rights – Differing Perspectives
„How do we, Hungarians and Slovaks, live together in Slovakia?” – was the central question of the afternoon on April 21st, at an event organized by the Hungarian College for Advanced Studies in Nitra (Nyitrai Magyar Szakkollégium), held at the Faculty of Central European Studies of Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra.
The dialogue between János Fiala-Butora, lawyer and human rights expert, and Martin Hanus, editor-in-chief of the conservative daily called Postoj, focused on Slovak-Hungarian relations in the spirit of understanding each other's viewpoints. The discussion was moderated by Zsófia Voda, director of the Hungarian College for Advanced Studies in Bratislava and initiator of the "mi/y: paralelné bubliny // párhuzamos buborékok" (parallel bubbles) project.
The audience was ethnically diverse, with a significant number of both Slovak and Hungarian students in attendance. The event was opened by Szabolcs Mózes, director of the Hungarian College for Advanced Studies in Nitra, who then handed the floor to the guest speakers. The exchange promised to be particularly exciting, and the participants dove "in medias res" straight into the heart of the matter.
The conversation followed the moderator’s prepared questions and audience reactions, flowing in a balanced manner, yet with fluctuating consensus. Viewers were able to submit their questions anonymously online. Many took this opportunity, stimulating active discourse between the speakers and the audience, as well as among those sitting next to each other.
It can be said that the event was far from aimless. Many unanswered questions were cast in a new light, and we witnessed a cultured, well-founded dialogue. It also became clear that the unresolved issue of collective guilt and the "Lex Beneš" is not the only conflict that needs to be addressed between Slovaks and Hungarians. Our shared history is permeated by old grievances in which both parties tend to see and present themselves as victims of the other side's unjust or oppressive behavior. In response, it was noted that while we may never see these issues through the exact same lens, we can and must take steps toward one another.
We would like to thank the Faculty of Central European Studies, the Gyula Juhász Youth Club (Jugyik), and the "mi/y: paralelné bubliny // párhuzamos buborékok" platform for their cooperation!
