Go East!: A History of Hungarian Turanism

Hungarians have long believed in an ethnic connection with people of Japanese, Bulgarian, Estonian, Finnish, and Turkic descent, known as Turanism. Balázs Ablonczy explores the ideology's rise and impact on Hungarian politics, science, and cultural identity in his book Go East! A History of Hungarian Turanism. The book traces Turanism's origins, radicalization, survival, and resurgence, including its influence on the extreme right-wing party Jobbik and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán's party Fidesz.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

Hungarians have long believed that they share a common ethnic heritage with people of Japanese, Bulgarian, Estonian, Finnish, and Turkic descent. This belief, known as Turanism, has had a significant impact on Hungarian politics, science, and cultural and ethnic identity. In his book Go East!: A History of Hungarian Turanism, Balázs Ablonczy explores the origins and lasting effects of Turanism on Hungary's history. Turanism emerged in the aftermath of the collapse of the Kingdom of Hungary, when Hungarian intellectuals began to question Hungary's place in the Western world. The influence of Turanism reached its peak during World War I, when Turanian societies funded research, economic missions, and geographical expeditions. Ablonczy traces the history of Turanism from its foundations through its radicalization in the interwar period, its survival in emigrant circles, and its resurgence during the economic crisis of 2008. Today, Turanian notions can be seen in the rise of the extreme right-wing party Jobbik and in the party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Fidesz. Go East! provides fresh insight into Turanism's key political and artistic influences in Hungary and illuminates the mark it has left on history.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253057419