Danube Institute

The Danube Institute is a conservative think tank situated in Budapest, Hungary.[1] The institute was established in 2013 by the Batthyány Lajos Foundation, through which it is funded.[2][3] According to its mission statement, the Danube Institute is dedicated to "a respectful conservatism in cultural, religious, and social life, the broad classical liberal tradition in economics, and a realistic Atlanticism in national security policy."[1]

The Danube Institute focuses on the "transmission of ideas and people" amongst countries in "Central Europe, other parts of Europe, and the English-speaking world."[1] In its mission statement, the Danube Institute proclaims its dedication to a belief that "the nation-state offers the only sure foundation for democracy" and that this "tolerant civic nationalism" is essential for a democratic international world.[1]

The Danube Institute achieves these goals through "research, analysis, publication, debate, and scholarly exchanges."[1] It recognises its primary audience amongst the centre-right, yet retains a commitment to "engage our counterparts on the democratic centre-left."[1]

John O'Sullivan is the president of the Danube Institute. O'Sullivan is a British journalist and former advisor to Margaret Thatcher. A commentator wrote that O’Sullivan cleverly “diverts attention from the fascistic tendencies of the government and Orbán and instead directs the audience to the insignificant minor points, carefully skirting the substantial issues, lest he may blurt out some truths.”[2] British political scientist David Martin Jones served as the institute's director of research from 2022 until his death in 2024. The current director of research for the Danube Institute is Calum T. M. Nicholson.

Central European politicians associated with the Danube Institute include János Martonyi and Ryszard Legutko.[4]

Events

The Danube Institute hosts events in Budapest to present its research to the public audience. In 2019, Tim Montgomerie, former social justice advisor to Boris Johnson and as of 2024 a member of Britain's right-wing Reform Party,[5] spoke at an event held at the Danube Institute, in which he expressed his support for Britain to have "a special relationship with Hungary amongst other states" following Brexit.[6]

In 2021, the French politician Éric Zemmour gave an interview to the institute.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Mission statement - Danube Institute". danubeinstitute.hu. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  2. ^ a b Balogh, Eva S. (2020-08-16). "The government-financed Danube Institute and its director, John O'Sullivan". Hungarian Spectrum. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  3. ^ Vogel, Kenneth P.; Novak, Benjamin (2021-10-04). "Hungary's Leader Fights Criticism in U.S. via Vast Influence Campaign". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  4. ^ Wickham, Alex. "A Top Boris Johnson Aide Says The UK Will Have A "Special Relationship" With Viktor Orbán's Hungary After Brexit". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  5. ^ Steerpike (2024-12-03). "Conservative Home founder joins Reform". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  6. ^ Read, Jonathon. "Boris Johnson aide says UK will have 'special relationship' with Hungary after Brexit". The New European. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  7. ^ Koziol, Michael (2019-10-05). "Why Australia's conservatives are finding friends in Hungary". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-01-08.


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