Weaponization of Historical Trauma Narratives in Hungary, Russia and Turkiye, and Their Potential Impact on International Security
Proceedings of the ... International Scientific Conference "Strategies XXI". The Complex and Dynamic Nature of the Security Environment, Jun 28, 2024
In this paper we point out the significant impact that historical trauma narratives may have on t... more In this paper we point out the significant impact that historical trauma narratives may have on the current international security environment, especially in our area. To this end, we will analyze the impact of historical trauma narratives spread by the elites and governments of Hungary, Russia and Turkiye, which are meant to justify and fuel policies, attitudes and strategies that have a potential negative impact on regional security. This exact same type of narrative has fuelled the justification for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and are also fuelling aggressive and revisionist foreign policies from Ankara and Budapest, creating a climate of tension and security risks in our region. While there are definitely various real historical traumas and suffering that need to be properly addressed and reconciled with throughout the world, there are also cynical weaponizations of these traumas, manipulated by politicians and academics alike, for personal, political, and geopolitical benefits. Keywords: historical trauma; narratives; manipulation; Russia; Hungary; Turkiye.
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Papers by Matei Blănaru
violent in these two counties, where the Romanian ethnics were a minority, and traces of the trauma inflicted upon Romanians is still present there, as our research shows. Even though our sample is not very large, the responses of our subjects indicate that there are reasons to believe there is historical trauma present in the Romanian community in Covasna and Harghita counties due to the 1940-1944 occupation by Fascist Hungary.
Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine and many other events or processes taking place all over the world show us that perhaps there can be no smart peace unless we are ready to fight a smart war. Both against conventional or unconventional enemies, both regarding symmetrical or asymmetrical warfare. And if we are beginning to see our society in terms of smart governance, smart education, smart economy or smart people, which means we see it in terms of smart peace and smart society, then there is definitely the need to see war and conflict in an integrated, compact vision of smart war. We need to understand that "smartness" is all about peace, but all about war as well, if we want a smart peace to last or if we want to be able to defend it, as Romania has a definitely defensive strategy. We are building a smart peace, but we have to prepare for a smart war as well.
violent in these two counties, where the Romanian ethnics were a minority, and traces of the trauma inflicted upon Romanians is still present there, as our research shows. Even though our sample is not very large, the responses of our subjects indicate that there are reasons to believe there is historical trauma present in the Romanian community in Covasna and Harghita counties due to the 1940-1944 occupation by Fascist Hungary.
Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine and many other events or processes taking place all over the world show us that perhaps there can be no smart peace unless we are ready to fight a smart war. Both against conventional or unconventional enemies, both regarding symmetrical or asymmetrical warfare. And if we are beginning to see our society in terms of smart governance, smart education, smart economy or smart people, which means we see it in terms of smart peace and smart society, then there is definitely the need to see war and conflict in an integrated, compact vision of smart war. We need to understand that "smartness" is all about peace, but all about war as well, if we want a smart peace to last or if we want to be able to defend it, as Romania has a definitely defensive strategy. We are building a smart peace, but we have to prepare for a smart war as well.