African immigrants in Hungary: Connection with the new national foreign policy

Abstract

The paper seeks to introduce the history, motivations, background and present situation of the marginal but growing African population in Hungary. It will show an East-Central European country with no record of being a colonial power in the African continent, but with significant ties to the continent through explorers and travelers, which aims to finally formulate a government policy on Africa and African development co-operation. In this effort, it considers Africans who either had obtained a university degree before 1989 at a Hungarian university, or came to the country during the democratic rule as true bridges: they can foster newly defined relations. The place, role and potentials of these African migrants in the unique Hungarian migration environment, together with attitudes towards their different groups on behalf of younger generations (high school and university students) of society will also be discussed.