East Central Europe Research Articles

Resisting the ‘civilising mission’. Analysing Hungarian conspiracy theories through standpoint theory

ABSTRACT Hungarian right-wing populists have been applying decolonial rhetoric in their conspiracy theories over the past three decades. Understanding their resistance against the ‘civilising' mission of ‘the West' – or recently ‘Brussels' – needs specific tools. By applying standpoint theory, our interest is in the domestication of globally existing conspiracy theories. Instead of imposing an external rationale upon conspiracy theory thinking, we seek to understand the conspiracy thinking from its' own epistemological standpoint/positioning. Extending our analysis of the recently successful political party Mi Hazánk Mozgalom (Our Homeland Movement) we analyse their election program, titled Virradat (Dawn), and how an East-Central European, semi-peripheric standpoint can be revealed from the text through the conspiracy theories utilized by the party. Our claim is that the utilisation of conspiracy theories in East-Central Europe can be interpreted as discursive tools of the resistance of a well-planned colonisation. We show how decolonial rhetoric is present in their election program and how it is tied to conspiracy theories which may be globally known, yet having their own, specific Hungarian features, deeply embedded in the country’s history and its radical- and far-right, populist political culture.

Large shallow lake response to anthropogenic stressors and climate change: Missing macroinvertebrate recovery after oligotrophication (Lake Balaton, East-Central Europe)

East-Central Europe's largest shallow lake, Balaton, experienced strong eutrophication in the 1970–80s, followed by water quality improvement and oligotrophication by 2010 CE. Recently however, repeated cyanobacterial blooms occurred and warned that internal P-recycling can act similarly to external P load, therefore we need a better understanding of past water level (WL) and trophic changes in the lake. In this study we discuss the last 500-yr trophic, WL and habitat changes of the lake using paleoecological (chironomids, pollen) and geochemical (sediment chlorophyll, TOC, TS, TN, C/H ratio, major and trace element) methods. We demonstrate that the most intensive and irreversible change in the macroinvertebrate fauna occurred during the period of economic boom between the First and Second World War (∼1925–1940 CE), when large-scale built-in and leisure use of the lake has intensified. At that time, the Procladius-Microchironomus-Stempellina dominated community transformed to Procladius-Chironomus plumosus-type-Microchironomus community that coincided with land use changes, intensified erosion and water-level regulation in the lake with the maintenance of year-round high WL. This was followed by the impoverishment and population size decrease of the chironomid fauna and Procladius dominance since 1940 CE, without any recovery after 1994 CE despite the ongoing oligotrophication. Accelerated rate of change and turnover of the fauna was connected to an increase in the benthivorous fish biomass and eutrophication. The basin lost almost completely its once characteristic Stempellina species between 1927 and 1940 CE due to trophic level increase and seasonal anoxia in the Szemes Basin. Reference conditions for ecosystem improvement were assigned to 1740–1900 CE. We conclude that in spite of the ongoing oligotrophication, the re-establishment of the Procladius-Microchironomus-Stempellina assemblage is hampered, and requires fish population regulation.

Between Active Matter and Letters: Kabbalah, Natural Knowledge, and Jewish How-To Books in Early Modern East-Central Europe

Abstract This essay focuses on Jewish practical kabbalistic books of recipes that were produced in early modern East-Central Europe. These handwritten sources document the Jewish engagement with practical forms of expertise, which were informed by the theoretical foundations of kabbalistic knowledge. Through two case studies, the article highlights Jewish vernacular ideas about nature and matter, and the techniques used to transform these ideas into practical things during the early modern period. It also explores the phenomenon of recording these ideas and methods in the form of practical kabbalistic books of recipes, which serve as a prime example of practical episteme. In so doing, the article sheds light on the significance of kabbalistic theosophy and practical kabbalistic traditions, particularly those developed in East-Central Europe, in the broader history of Western European knowledge production.

The right of re-measurement of settlements in the Middle Ages in the light of the legal practice of Bohemia and Silesia in the 13th and 14th centuries

Summary During the High Middle Ages, hereditary land tenure prevailed throughout East-Central Europe, often in a formalised manner based upon the ius emphyteuticum, whereby peasants were guaranteed a stable amount of land rents to be paid to landlords. There was, however, a legal institution that enabled the landlords to practically renegotiate original settlement contracts without openly violating them, in order to increase their income: the law of re-measurement of settlements (ius mensurationis). On examples from Silesia and Bohemia we have demonstrated that the landlords used this means plentifully, either directly through its actual implementation, or indirectly by renouncing their claims for payment. We have also hypothesized on the rationale and origin of the ius mensurationis, analyzed who could raise claims based upon it, and commented on the formulas related to this legal institution, which may be found there in Silesian and Bohemian charters.

East Central Europe and Communism. Politics, Culture and Society, 1943–1991 by Sabrina P. Ramet, New York: Routledge, 2023

East Central Europe and Communism. Politics, Culture and Society, 1943–1991 by Sabrina P. Ramet, New York: Routledge, 2023

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The political map of East-Central Europe changed after the First World War. But this transformation also affected many different aspects of everyday life. In particular, the years of transition from the collapsing empires to the new republics offer rich research opportunities. In this paper, we have tried to explore one aspect of this transition at the interface of history and sociolinguistics. In a peripheral small town in the Czechoslovak Republic, we have used archival sources to investigate the characteristics of the official language use at the beginning of the consolidation of the new state power. Our study also seeks to find answers to the question of what influenced the different language-speaking actors at different levels of the administration, and what bargains were struck in everyday life that might have determined other aspects of the transition.

What shapes populists’ economic policy impact? An analysis of financial market reform in Hungary and Poland

ABSTRACT The paper seeks to understand the factors that shape populist radical right parties’ economic policies. While there is a good understanding of how these parties’ core ideology of nativism and authoritarianism shapes social policies, we know less about economic policies. With few exceptions, the insights of this literature have also not travelled to East-Central Europe, despite the strength of the populist right in this region. Instead, authors writing on the region focus on the social coalitions forged by populist parties as an explanation for policies. These authors however do not focus on the role of populism in policymaking. Our paper therefore asks whether the ideological literature can travel to economic policies as well, and specifically to the cases of Hungary and Poland. Drawing on the evidence of financial market reforms under the Fidesz and PiS rule in Hungary and Poland, and a congruence analysis testing the predictive power of existing approaches, we show that a combination of ideological and material factors is needed to explain observed economic policies.

Circulation patterns of East-Central European films on European SVoD catalogues

Combining statistical, quantitative analysis with qualitative examination of film titles, the article explores the presence and circulation patterns of films from five East-Central European (ECE) countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) in European SVoD catalogues. The scene’s continuous change and adaptation pose challenges for analysis due to its fluidity. While examining streaming libraries, it becomes apparent that distinguishing between commissioned and licensed content, a fundamental consideration in such analyses, may hold greater relevance for larger markets compared to smaller, peripheral ones like those in the ECE region. Moreover, while exclusive content is valued among leading streaming providers, there is limited competition for exclusive streaming rights to ECE films. Additionally, classic films from the region’s cinematic history are readily accessible online, often free of charge, offering opportunities for viewers to explore Romanian or Polish cinema without subscription requirements. However, access to classics from other ECE countries may be more limited. Market shares based solely on film quantity require contextual analysis, as they are influenced by niche platforms specializing in specific regions or genres. Notably, recent years have seen shifts in local film cultures and trends in theatrical and VoD distribution, with distinct characteristics observed in different ECE countries. While certain trends, such as the rise of successful genre films like comedies and crime thrillers, are evident, the visibility and distribution of ECE films on European VoD platforms remain influenced by various factors, including festival success, auteur directors and genre preferences. Furthermore, the inclusion of globally popular genres and actors recognized beyond the region can enhance a film’s market reach. The study suggests that peripheralization is not unique to the ECE region, with similar dynamics potentially affecting other European small and peripheral film markets. Ultimately, analysing SVoD presence represents only one aspect of a multifaceted ecosystem, highlighting the complexity of the streaming landscape.

Does István Bibó’s Concept of the „Misery of Small States” Carry a Message for the Western Balkans Today?

István Bibó (1911-1979), a lawyer and doctor of political science by profession, became a prominent Hungarian political theorist from the late 1930s. He joined the left-wing populist party and became an expert on constitutional affairs for the National Peasant Party. He obtained professorship at a young age and was elected correspond-ing member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1946. The hereby analyzed work – foregrounded by years of preliminary research – was published in large numbers shortly after the end of World War 2 (1946). Drawing on extensive international theo-retical and historical knowledge, Bibó analyzed the long-term evolution of historical processes in Central-East Europe (addressing the two regions separately and togeth-er), concluding that disruptions in the neighbourhood context, internal conflicts and divisions have been the major factors behind the repeated failures, the „misery” of the small states of the region (Czechia/Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary). Despite not being a „Balkan scholar”, Bibó was well acquainted with the advances of interna-tional and particularly Hungarian research, with an outlook to state-building processes in the Balkans and providing particular insights on the states in question. Bibó became notorious for his involvement, his ethical, principled stance demonstrated during the 1956 revolution but his scientific contributions were recognized only after his death with the publication of his works in foreign languages. Bibó’s state and political theoretical approaches and his insights on ethical peace may have particular relevance for the Western Balkans today. A series of unresolved internal issues within the region can create legitimate grounds for external intervention even in present-day circumstances.

Stable Isotope Hydrology of Karst Groundwaters in Romania

In this article we present the first investigation of the stable isotope composition of groundwater in Romania, East-Central Europe, with a focus on the karst areas. Our aim is twofold: (1) to provide a countrywide map with the distribution of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios in groundwater, and (2) to assess the recharge patterns of karst water. We collected more than 600 water samples from springs and wells across Romania for stable isotope analyses and monitored in detail the stable isotope composition of the waters as they pass through five cave systems. Our data show a spatial distribution of the stable isotope composition of the groundwater with low values in the mountainous area and high values in the surrounding lowlands and the central Transylvanian Depression. However, waters in karst areas induce departures from this distribution, resulting from the fast (hours to days) transfer of waters from high (ponor) to low (spring) altitudes. Water emerging from the karst springs has generally lower δ values than before sinking through the ponors, thus indicating a substantial contribution of winter recharge through diffuse infiltration and seepage. This contribution results in overall dilution of the water entering through ponors, likely resulting in changes in the chemical composition of the water and diluting potential pollutants. Our data call for careful separation between karst and non-karst spring/well waters, as indiscriminate common treatment might lead to erroneous interpretations.

Phylogenetic insights into the genetic legacies of Hungarian-speaking communities in the Carpathian Basin

This study focuses on exploring the uniparental genetic lineages of Hungarian-speaking minorities residing in rural villages of Baranja (Croatia) and the Zobor region (Slovakia). We aimed to identify ancestral lineages by examining genetic markers distributed across the entire mitogenome and on the Y-chromosome. This allowed us to discern disparities in regional genetic structures within these communities. By integrating our newly acquired genetic data from a total of 168 participants with pre-existing Eurasian and ancient DNA datasets, our goal was to enrich the understanding of the genetic history trajectories of Carpathian Basin populations. Our findings suggest that while population-based analyses may not be sufficiently robust to detect fine-scale uniparental genetic patterns with the sample sizes at hand, phylogenetic analysis of well-characterized Y-chromosomal Short Tandem Repeat (STR) data and entire mitogenome sequences did uncover multiple lineage ties to far-flung regions and eras. While the predominant portions of both paternal and maternal DNA align with the East-Central European spectrum, rarer subhaplogroups and lineages have unveiled ancient ties to both prehistoric and historic populations spanning Europe and Eastern Eurasia. This research augments the expansive field of phylogenetics, offering critical perspectives on the genetic constitution and heritage of the communities in East-Central Europe.

Landscape matrix and substrate jointly shape the trait composition of true bug (Heteroptera) communities in drainage ditches

Drainage ditches play a key role in the conservation of fragmented landscapes by providing refuge sites and secondary habitats for many terrestrial and aquatic organisms across various taxa. Species richness of ditches can exceed that of adjacent natural habitats, but here, we looked further and assessed the role of drainage ditches in shaping the community structure of true bugs aiming to better estimate ditches’ conservation value from the point of their species and trait composition. We tested the effects of the ditch substrate (saline, sandy or fen), landscape matrix (agrarian or grassland) and vegetation (species richness of all plants and invasive plants, and abundance of woody plants) on the true bug communities of 60 drainage ditches in the lowland of East-Central Europe. We found that substrate and landscape matrix contributed the most in determining true bug communities. Based on species composition, different substrates and landscape matrix types had distinct communities, but the trait composition showed differentiation according to the landscape matrix in saline habitats only. The trait composition in true bug communities was more diverse in grassland ditches than in agrarian ones, which hosted more habitat generalists associated with invasive vegetation. We concluded that a pronounced gradient in habitat stress, originating in substrate salinity and aridity, causes the differentiation of the true bug communities based on their trait composition. Additionally, intense habitat stress increases the number of habitat specialists and the conservation value of a drainage ditch.

Backsliding versus Backlash: Do Challenges to Democracy in East Central Europe Threaten LGBTQIAP Empowerment?

If third-wave democratization propelled gains in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexual, asexual, and pansexual (LGBTQIAP) empowerment globally, does the contemporary wave of democratic backsliding imperil those gains? To what extent does the potential threat from such institutional erosion depend on the presence of right-wing populists in government, i.e., backlash? Can both threats be moderated by international pressure? Here, I present a theoretical framework for analyzing the interaction of backsliding, backlash, and international leverage as they impact LGBTQIAP empowerment. I then empirically probe this model’s plausibility by analyzing annual changes in LGBT empowerment through 2020 in fourteen new democracies in east central Europe. (The empirical analysis uses the narrower category “LGBT” because of data limitations.) I find that when neither backsliding nor backlash is present, LGBT empowerment expands regardless of international leverage. When both are present, however, international leverage is critical. If leverage is low, I find that LGBT empowerment declines, and the magnitude of losses in empowerment is greater than the magnitude of gains when neither is present. If leverage is high, simultaneous backlash and backsliding are associated with gains in LGBT empowerment. Even if the latter gains may be seen more as “pink-washing” than as sustainable and genuine change, these findings underline the importance of paying attention to international context when analyzing LGBTQIAP politics as the third wave ebbs.

Short-Term Climatic Oscillations in the Central Region of the East-European Plain at the Beginning of the Holocene Based on Palynological Studies of Lacustrine Deposits

The Preboreal (11.75–10.70 ka BP) is still the least paleogeographically studied time interval in the central part of the East European Plain. High-resolution multi-proxy studies of lacustrine sediments at the Seltso site located in the Desna River floodplain (Dnieper River basin) were conducted. Radiocarbon dating, loss-on-ignition determination, sedimentological and palynological studies and identification of Non-Pollen Palynomorphs in lacustrine sediments allow us to reconstruct changes in vegetation caused by rapid warming at the Younger Dryas–Holocene boundary, short-term climatic fluctuations within the Preboreal and subsequent resumption of warming. Initial Preboreal warming reached its maximum at about 11.5 ka BP when a relatively dry continental climate existed. Between 11.4 and 11.2 ka BP, a short-term cooling corresponding to the Preboreal Oscillation in Greenland occurred, as indicated by a significant reduction of woody vegetation and expansion of open plant communities. In the Late Preboreal, approximately 11.2–10.7 ka BP, warming resumed, which was accompanied by a decrease in the climate continentality. Comparison with high-resolution lithological and palynological data from eight reliably dated sections of the central East European Plain indicates that in northwestern and central Europe, the impact of the Preboreal Oscillation cooling on the vegetation and the lake ecosystems’ development was probably somewhat stronger.

The Formal and the Informal in the History of Socialist Scholarly Interconnectedness in East Central Europe.

With the emergence of Olympic internationalism, scholarly networking in East Central Europe came to be dominated by the idea of scholars representing their nations, which replaced the previously leading pattern of private elite scholars with extensive international contacts. This also formalised trans-border contacts, which became increasingly seen as international. In this article, we trace the relationship between these formal and informal networks from the late 19thcentury to the end of the socialist period, showing that even as formalisation grew, it depended heavily on avariety of informal connections. Even during the period of socialism, when the state sought to control international exchange, scholars used informality to circumvent politically determined constraints. Nevertheless, these informal contacts were not outside the system, but were an integral part of it and depended on formal preconditions. Concentrating on Czechoslovak-Polish relations we argue that in addressing the issue of the relationship between the formal and the informal, acombination of sources must be used, which should then be scrutinised for the stories their authors wish to tell. While archival sources are used for the formal part, oral histories or memoirs reveal the informal part. In East Central Europe, formal sources are likely to ignore informality, especially when it was associated with illegality, whereas ego-documents, especially those produced after 1989, are likely to ignore or downplay connections to the state and overemphasise informality as ameans of acting outside politics. Thus, writing the history of informality in socialist scholarship, not only in terms of international contacts but also in terms of everyday practices, is away of developing counter-narratives to the state-centeredness of current research, which must be linked to acritical study of the contemporary memory of socialist scholarship that shapes the narratives told in oral history.

Consistency of Aerosol Optical Properties between MODIS Satellite Retrievals and AERONET over a 14-Year Period in Central–East Europe

Aerosols influence Earth’s climate by interacting with radiation and clouds. Remote sensing techniques aim to enhance our understanding of aerosol forcing using ground-based and satellite retrievals. Despite technological advancements, challenges persist in reducing uncertainties in satellite remote sensing. Our study examines retrieval biases in MODIS sensors on Terra and Aqua satellites compared to AERONET ground-based measurements. We assess their performance and the correlation with the AERONET aerosol optical depth (AOD) using 14 years of data (2010–2023) from 29 AERONET stations across 10 Central–East European countries. The results indicate discrepancies between MODIS Terra and Aqua retrievals: Terra overestimates the AOD at 16 AERONET stations, while Aqua underestimates the AOD at 21 stations. The examination of temporal biases in the AOD using the calculated estimated error (ER) between AERONET and MODIS retrievals reveals a notable seasonality in coincident retrievals. Both sensors show higher positive AOD biases against AERONET in spring and summer compared to fall and winter, with few ER values for Aqua indicating poor agreement with AERONET. Seasonal variations in correlation strength were noted, with significant improvements from winter to summer (from R2 of 0.58 in winter to R2 of 0.76 in summer for MODIS Terra and from R2 of 0.53 in winter to R2 of 0.74 in summer for MODIS Aqua). Over the fourteen-year period, monthly mean aerosol AOD trends indicate a decrease of −0.00027 from AERONET retrievals and negative monthly mean trends of the AOD from collocated MODIS Terra and Aqua retrievals of −0.00023 and −0.00025, respectively. An aerosol classification analysis showed that mixed aerosols comprised over 30% of the total aerosol composition, while polluted aerosols accounted for more than 22%, and continental aerosols contributed between 22% and 24%. The remaining 20% consists of biomass-burning, dust, and marine aerosols. Based on the aerosol classification method, we computed the bias between the AERONET AE and MODIS AE, which showed higher AE values for AERONET retrievals for a mixture of aerosols and biomass burning, while for marine aerosols, the MODIS AE was larger and for dust the results were inconclusive.

The Circulation of the Novel between Romania and (the Former) Yugoslavia (1918–2020): Imperial (Dis)Continuities in Post-Imperial East-Central Europe

This article aims to investigate the circulation of the novel between Romania and (the former) Yugoslavia from 1918 to 2020. Based on the data provided primarily by DCRT (The Chronological Dictionary of the Translated Novel in Romania) and the COBISS database, the translation flows are analyzed in four subperiods: 1918–1946, 1947–1964, 1965–1989, and 1990–2020. The quantitative data are used to further examine which novels were translated and how they crossed borders in this part of post-imperial Eastern Europe. I show that, apart from communist internationalism, the imperial legacy, which was replaced by globalization processes after the fall of communism and the Yugoslav wars, also plays a major role in the dissemination of the novel, influencing both the corpus and the channels of circulation. I argue that acknowledging and analyzing the usually overlooked non-national, sub-national, and supra-national elements reveals the heterogeneity of these literatures, which could be construed as inter- and transnational literatures.

Housing Rent Control at the Micro Level: Perspectives from Southeast and East Central Europe, 1918–1924

This paper presents both statistical and qualitative analyses examining the micro-level repercussions of state intervention, specifically the implementation of rent control systems and requisitioning in the housing rental markets of Southeast- and East-Central European regions in the aftermath of the First World War. The numerical assessment relies on the calculation of the residual postwar purchasing power parity of prewar rents, while the qualitative analysis endeavors to reconstruct the daily dynamics of coexistence among conflicting parties, encompassing instances of extreme intimidation and violence.

Small Lead Seals And Sealing In Early Medieval East-Central Europe

Artykuł zawiera analizę stosowania plomb ołowianych we wczesnośredniowiecznej Polsce, jako metody kontroli handlowej i celnej w sytuacji kryzysu gospodarczego. Zwyczaj plombowania towarόw przez Piastów jest postrzegany jako transfer kulturowy z Rusi. Polskie plomby handlowe były używane równolegle z brakteatami guziczkowymi w okresie od połowy XIII do połowy XIV w. Wyobrażone na nich przedstawienia nawiązywały do znaków na brakteatach i znacznie różniły się od plomb typu drohiczyńskiego z terenów Rusi. Nadzwyczajna liczba odnalezionych w Drohiczynie plomb może być odzwierciedleniem przesunięcia szlaków handlowych wskutek konfliktów zbrojnych.

East-Central Europe: The Young and The Far-Right

Abstract: Scholars are increasingly concerned that youth political apathy is a risk to liberal democracy. The issue of youth apathy is particularly pronounced in East-Central Europe—a region that has recently experienced sharp democratic decline. Across the EU member states of East-Central Europe, the share of youth that report complete disinterest in politics has doubled in the last decade. This is not an artifact of youth dissatisfaction with their nation's democracy. Rather, it is explained by ideological cross-pressures. East-Central Europe's apathetic youth hold a unique set of values that do not map onto party platforms. Unlike older generations, they are profoundly pro-EU and embrace certain aspects of liberalism, including gay rights. They are also significantly less religious. However, they are increasingly unfriendly toward immigration and multiculturalism. Compared to their politically engaged peers, East-Central Europe's apathetic youth also value democratic governance less. If they were to be politically mobilized, there is little reason to believe they would stabilize liberal democracy.