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8/1/1996 - Introducing Myself and My Region by Christopher P. Ball

Introducing Myself My Region BUDAPEST Hungary August By Christopher Ball MYPRE HUNGARIANHISTORY Not spectacular happened early childhood raised Hunts ville Alabamawith pretty traditional family consisting parents older brotherand sister Wewereregularchurch goingLutherans Myfather isaphysi cistandmotheranurse Myteenageyearswerelikewise fairlytypical uncontrolla hormones girls aspirations confusion When however became interested business things initially envisioning myselfassomekindofup comingDonaldTrump Prettyquicklythough Ire alizedthatmyinterestswerenotsomuchinbeingarich capitalist butinhowthe capitalistsystem itselfworks Thathappenstoleadrightintothefieldofeconomics althoughnow realizethefieldismuchbroaderthanthat fellinlovewiththefield ofeconomics earlyonand subsequent yearshave triedhard onomics enjoy attended University Alabama Huntsville UAH though reallycameintomyselfthere Mygoalbecamefirmly setongettingmyPh D inEco nomics teaching researching academic environment mainderofmylife As nowknow andmanyolderpeopletoldmethen youcan notreallyplanyour which fullofunexpectedtwistsandturns oftenmaking planningseem futile Sure enough mysec ondmajortwist thefirstbeingmyfall inginlovewitheconomics camewhenI chance study theLondonSchool Economics summer semester iiiil iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii In London outstanding minds young around world attended classes leading world economists first taste transitional economics realization theory learned meaning changing lions lives daily Suddenly world opened I learned world larger drastically different gined First foremost comprised people peoplewho livein littleworlds around globe world uniqueinitsownspecialway Iknewthen wouldn Alabama would Returning isolatedmyselfsomewhat becoming closer friendswiththemembers ofmyfamily slSending ofmytimeworkingand studying countless hours university library Thinking partially preparing myself orjust passingtime inwaiting forthe third twist whichwasabout FWISTNUMBERTHREE Forweeks Ihadbeenwaitingforgraduateschoolre plieswhenthefaxcamethrough Itwasabitcrypticand probably enough thinking individuals Dear Mr Ball Please Hungary Younoworrywehelpyou study researchingthe nomics orwhatyouwantinHungary You notneed worrying living costs scholarship living costs I still reality wasabit longer butthatwasthe essence In ofmyundergraduate studies atUAH University Florida going Hungary human rights research Personally I little interest traveling Central East Europe At getting Ph D Economics putting offmytravels indefinite future I spent vioustwoyears atUAHearning aGermanminor terrealizinginLondonhowmuch Iwasmissingbynot understanding foreign languages cultures At somepointduringmygraduatestudies Ihopedtogoto Germany economic research chosen graduate programs allowed mester abroad The UAHto lecture changes Central Eastern Europe CEE since The university asked since I interests similar issues I agreed along fabulously Over lunch dinnerwe chatted endlessly Thiswas early Fall senior Weagreed maintain mutuallybeneficial exchange information coming years Again naivet6 hadfooledmeintobelievingthatIknewwhere would beforthecomingyears Isentoutgraduate schoolappli cations field Developmental Economics She calledmejustbeforeleavingforaresearch tripoverthe Christmas holiday She would going Denmark aresearchgroup there toHungaryandRoma niawhere shewouldmeetwith several groupsandindi viduals Sheofferedtotakemyresumewithher justin therewasanopportunityformetogoaswell itcouldn thurt though Ireallydidn texpectmuch saving money graduate school When returned inJanuary brought people Hungary expressed interest helpingmego toHungary Theyoffered associateme witheconomicresearchersintheregionso couldassist their research Studying transitional developmental economics first handwasnearlyadreamcometrue itwasstilltoodistantadreamformetofullygrasp Ire quested something writing Hungarians buyingsometime inhope ofreceiving agood graduate school reply A month later called again information By received ceptances tosomeofmytop choice schools butwithout financialsupport Ihadtoturnthemdown Wecarried onthiswayforafewmoreweeksandmonthsuntil I CPB nally received something writing I quested thatvery cryptic At receivedanacceptancewithateachingfellowship fromoneofthegraduateschools Itwasnotthebestnor worst choices For I spent sleepless nights talking professors friends andfamily Intheend decidedIwouldtakethechance andgo toHungary The offer In I would spend living Central Eastern Eu studying economic changes first learn inganewlanguage culture Iwouldre applytogradu schools better chance getting intosomeofmytop choice schools thmoney Evenif everything wrong Hungary I could three monthson tourist awonderful experi similar perhaps London exact paper graduate schools I applied What I As economics professors Chris re21years Oneyear isnothingbutarounding error inyourlife Hewasright I bought plane ticket Hungary depart ingAugust17 The girlfromFloridawouldbego studying Hungarian taking graduate classes She received government grant She offered apartment wentbadly LESSONONE expectations As matter I tried couldnotevenpretendtoimaginewhatHungary would Before study London several illusory images foggy streets movie style cafes My expectations turned completely wrong London simply different Holly fantasies grown I happens first travelers The truth matter movies watch books peopleyou never imagine place peopleyou never first Ac tually I believe almost should imagine place before because different considered myself lucky still preconceived notions about Hungary before Ididn tknowthehistory people Budapest I really tknowanything except thatmyGermanpro fessor laughed I I would learn language something about Finno Ugric being difficult combina In reality could nothing learn there Start ground nowhere Everythingwouldbeaneducationalexperience Nomat terwhatIdidordidn Iwouldlearn On plane Kelly Florida began educate about region I about economic transitionHungaryhad undergone political historical It turned there still ethnic problems between Hungary Romania Many revolve around Hungarian minority Tran sylvania which western Romania dering Hungary That first I heard Hungarians outside Hungary borders The numberofthem Romaniaturns aroundtwo million Ashistorywouldhave theregionknownasTran sylvaniawas given toRomania under Treaty Tri following World War I Up point Transylvania either fully independent under Hungarian necessarily Hungarian state proper This actually point ofmuchdebate today The Romanianshave toricaltheory putsthemin region history Hungarians arrived giving legiti claim today The typical I found first argument The theory seems developed ofthe centuryand thenbeen further developed Ceasescu minions order legitimize nationalist claims Atthemoment Imakenostatementconcerning validity Hungarian version history serious debate during myfellowship What I conclusively state point Transylvania historically contributed significantly cultural artistic political other development Hungary Romania It always mixed ethnically chiefly comprising Saxons Romani andHungarians other small groups For served ernmostborder Hungary Austro Hungarian Empire since Carpathian Mountains naturalborder Awarrior class along eastern border Szeklar Szdkely Hungarian enjoyed legaland social status defender against sions East During times peace Szeklar regions havens culture contributed musical dance artistic culture Transylvania Hungary Noone surewhere Szeklarscome buttheywere discoveredbytheHungarians wellbefore first millennium already found speak Hungarian They considered broken Hungarian groups historic Seven tribes northeast Asia Historicdays Today theSzeklars stillliveinTransylva those areas aptly called Szeklar Land Szdke lyf61d Hungarian constitute largest blocks HungariansinRomania often constitutingupto population regions Maros Hargita Kovszna inHungarian wherethey This division Hungarian nation giving Romanians actually perhaps reason Hungarians sided Hitler WWII They could unjust division phrase Nero No never often chanted repetitio referring Treaty Trianon during inter period resultant borders In schools during childreneven recited daily believed Hungarian nation truth justice Hitler Hungarians Germany merely offer realization truthful borders Greater Hungary brilliantly playing poorly drawn borders ofthe internationalcommunityafterWWI Hungary territory while least Theyre acquired itduringtheSecondWorldWar given Romanians Romanians switched sides minute support Allied Powers AfterWWIInotmuchrenegotia borders allowed under Soviet domina leaving history frozen during Cold War thawedonlywiththe changes of1989 AROUGHSTART Ittookno allto realize thattheagencythat inally offered money research opportunities placetolivehad littl eornointerestinmeat Elections Hungary between I accepted theoffertocomeandthetime arrived Withachangein governmentcame acomplete change ofavail money leaving agency strapped greaterconcerns thanhelpingoutsomekidfrom Al abama Moreover would agency awell knownTransylvanian reputation being greedy unreliable whatonemightcallagoodcombination On brighter young agency Sandor Mezei became friends Hewasa history studentfromTransylvania studyingin Budapest working agency assistant great himself He turned sentmethecrypticfax thepoet hadgraced signature Sindor tookituponhimselfto intro everyone Budapest findingsomeemployment forme From August tomid Decemberwewentallovertowntogether workedon afewsmallcontra ctstohelppayforasmallroom renting family apartment My parents ableto sellmy1985OldsmobileCalaisand Imanaged forawhilelonger Although Ilostwellover20lbs first never could afford coming month would trade those months world I learned truly meant Hungarian during transition broke gryandinacrowdedapartment alsofoundalife friendinSndorand fellinlovewithHungary Transyl vania Central East European region goodandbadpoints Itshouldbenoted thispointthatSndor issureto reappear monthly reports During those early months taught history Hungarian formedmeabout regional politicsandwasalways there Heneverasked athingin return Hewantedme formmyown opinion about Hungary offeringme wealth information little possible He person region gives Institute Current World Affairs Hungarian Romanian versions history I Romania insists Hungarians Romanians I I could repay Since those early months moved Romania taken RMDSz RomanianHungarianDemocratic Alliance liticalparty political officeandwasrecently elected councilorin hishometown NATOANDALLTHAT One ofthe places Sindortookmewas Hungarian Atlantic Council I worked contracts writing various proposals reports letters English They hiredmein January conference June assist their foreign correspondence nothing aboutNATO governmental organizations NGOs region spent first months reading everythingpossibleonthe subjects freetime By conference around fairly petent field foreign policy especially Szekesfehervar Veszprem lates NATO managing several projects Council Each NATO member country Partnership Peace PfP countryhasan Atlantic Council The Atlantic CounciloftheUSis inmyopinion thebest Itworkson research related US foreign policy which devoted NATO The European Councils however tendtobeprolificconferenceorganizersandproduce substantive research They promoteNATOin their countriesand hostmanyeducational activities The British Council somewhere between US Council European doing outstanding search although largely NATO related The Central European Councils almost exactly alike spend 99percentoftheirtimepushingforadmission toNATO andtheEuropeanUnion andtheremainder oftheirtime promotingNATOin theirhomecountries The Hungarian Atlantic Council formed under government members selected elites inHungary Somewerecabinetmembersofthe Miskolc Nyiregyhaza Debrecen Ke cskemet Szentes lykanizsa Szeged Pecs CPB government heads companies others prominent academicians It fairly typical other Central European Councils common element brought together belief Hungary should NATO other western ances namely European Union thereby reunite selfwithitslong lostwesternfamily Italsoincludedan interestingclauseinitsfoundingdocument however It persons never spoke publicly againstNATOcouldbecomemembers Thisseems nocentandreasonableenough forapro NATOorgani zation reality former Communists importance organization The provision radical during first Communist government hopes market democratic state overnight transition still But definitely caused problems since formerCommunistswerevotedbackintopower The elite founders major stakes beginning First never their minds whether Councilwouldbe social serious active NGO Second while cialNGOthat turns official grantproposalsandoper budget their money directly government grants exceptionally ceive members government positions Those government funds difficult ceive elections party control which exactly happened To honestly tbelieve theyever anticipated In Central Eastern Europe planning justnowcomingtobeunderstoodand appliedby Therehasalwaysbeenagooddealoftalkaboutthe seems usually Onthe immediately after called revolutions euphoria people could foresee things goingwrong democratic government being voted On other there suppres dream moment tanks would didwhen these countries attempted previ ousrevolutions forexample inHungaryin1956 lieve these reasons people lived moment Council members particular everimagine theymighthaveto functionun different government If imagine surely tseemtoknowwhatthatmeant When elections friendly revolutionary government voted money coming Council founders exist NGO Suddenly seemingly innocent clause excluding former Commu nists excluded important members ernment Only Council almost pletely bankrupt members beginning grips mistakes world NGOs proper private foundation government money I think lesson needed albeit Sadly though I think members still entertain delusion manage surviveuntilthenext election thensurelytheCommu nists willbevotedoutandeverythingwillbe As IwindupmyworkwiththeHungarianAtlantic Council I favor Hungary admis siontoNATOanddiscussthetwodebatesabout The first debate Russian debate which claims expansion NATO would anger Russia chances ofmoving along democracy To ginwith NATOisadefensiveandnotanoffensive therefore posing direct threat Russia It threattoRussiaonly ifRussiaattacks Second theissue ofwhether Russia become democracy depend NATO Russia leaders andabove allitspeople Third Russiacannotturnback toward Communism It totally bankrupt system would nowhere A different country mightexperimentwith itandmakesomepr ogressfora while country Russia allowed Com munism course ground cannot return immediately It plane crashed pletelythat itisnowaworthlesspileofscrapmetal Itis absurd Russians possibly getbackin airplane anywhere They deviate fromthepathofdemocracy whichisbad Iamfully confident cannot return Com munismin nearterm Fourth Russia great military power foolish enough strategic engaging Chechen showing West truly pathetic forces today As nuclear weapons matter because West worried Third World countries former Soviet countries In Russia major threatand feeltheWest ledbytheUSA shouldexpand NATO adding former Soviet countries thereby enabling West carry other tasks likehelpingRussia restructuringNATO theEU The second debate which deals pansion largely American character basically claims costs ofexpansion great justify Asaneconomist thelpbutlovedebatesdealing costsandbenefits Here theargumentis extremely Tobegin thebudgetary theUSis significant The expanding Alliance nothing paying regional stability otherwords paying forthe avoidance ofrisk This needs little explaining Should Russia threat ternative expansion would Partners Peace CEE countries close nowand Russian aggression expand NATO quickly fully The expenses expanding force massive troop movements setting bases would greater those withgradualupgrad ingnow Furthermore iftheformer Institute Current World Affairs countries inNATO defini outside ofNATO which isadangerous thing The CentralEuropeancountries landbetween which leaves nervous pawns internationalgameofsecurity tradeandpolitics That anunstable arrangementonthe Thebestwayto guarantee these countries rogue states constantly warring other provide secure environment required transition Then serve examples other aspiring countries position rather compete their neighbors A Hun garian thinker named Istvin Bib6 writing feredthe greatinsightinto issue Being democrat means primarily afraid afraid those differing opinions speak different languages belong other races afraid revolutions conspiracies unknown malicious intent enemies hostile propaganda being demeaned those imaginary dangers truly dangerous because afraid ThecountriesofCentralandEasternEurope afraid becausethey notfullydevelopedmaturedemocra andthey notbecome fullydevelopedmature democraciesbecausethey afraid Thus Bib6 explained Central Europe Catch ation40yearsago Today thinkthatNATOinclusion ofthese countries awayout Catch After pansion their neighbors including Rus outofsimilarCatch22s Welostthem40yearsago losethem again COMINGFULLCIRCLE One frequently discussed issues arises discussingNATO region minori particularlyHungarianminorities There fearin thatby includingHungary inNATO theWest would import Hungary problems neighboring countries Hungarian minorities mOcracy continue Central Europe democracy better handling minority majority relations other systems future bright Unfortunately I Isuspect buthavenorealevidencetosupport suspicion Concepts likedemocracy oftenworkbet theory practice Many claim democ would enough settle ethnic problems Romania autonomy norities required At point I really tknow In issue ledmeto apply fellowship Institute Current World Affairs CEE study economics status Hungarian minorities other countries Once again I learning years To begin I learn Hun garianlanguageadequately Uptonow havestudiedit inmyverylimitedfreetime Iamatafunctionallevel butamstillalongwayfromwhere needtobeformy fellowship Ialsoneedbetterunderstandingoftheintri cacies history Hungarian Hungarian versions This course ongoing during years I intend concentrate background study language training coming months After I looking several issues Is autonomy really Is better decentralized democracy freer markets managing ethnic differences Romania If theoreticallybetterorworse thenis itrealisticallymore orless feasiblethanotheralternatives Ifitisbetterand morefeasible thenhowwoulditbestructured Andon different What terms history culture andtraditionmean ethnic context These onlya ofthe issues Ihopetobe looking atwhile Mainly however these issues forefrontofmymind whileremaining flexibleenough follow other strands interest I counter For intend overplan whatmaybethefreesttimeinmylife sothat canbet incorporate upcoming twists turns intomy fellowship BACKINHUNGARY Now returned Hungary fellow things indeed changed grateful Hungarian friends early laugh ingly called American Already otherHungarians propositionedme cheat ICWA money I surely CIA issue Again Within first months travel accused being agent At toldme Allyou questions quietly listening never sides andthen write thingsdownat nightand occasion States To matters worse That because trying learn asmuchas possible duringmyearly employeddays wasmakingnotesinajournalanddid occasionally newspaper Atlanta which never published Now fellow listening remaining objective keeping notes sending reports US actually Ohboy llneverbelievemethistime Bibo Istvan Democracy Revolution Self Determination The Distress East European Small States Atlantic Re searchandPublications CPB Adam Smith Albion Aformer research associate Institute EastWest Studies Prague Czech Republic Adam spending years studying writing about Turkey Cen Asia their importance actors Middle East former Soviet A Harvard graduate History Adam completed first M Litt degree Rus East European history languages Oxford University EUROPE RUSSIA Christopher P Ball An economist Chris Ball holds B A University Alabama Huntsville attended International Summer School London School Eco nomics He studied Hungarian years Budapest while serving Project Director Hungarian Atlantic Council As Institute Fellow studying writing about Hungar minorities former Soviet nations East Central Europe EUROPE RUSSIA William F Foote Formerly financial analyst Lehman Brothers Emerging Markets Group Willy Foote examining economic substructure Mexico impact market forms Mexico people society politics Willy holds Bachelor degree Yale Uni versity history Master London School Economics Development Economics Latin America studied Basque history San Sebastian Spain He carried intensive Spanish language studies Guatemala worked editor Re porterfortheBuenosAiresHeraldfrom1990to THEAMERICAS Sharon Griffin A feature writer contributing columnist African affairs San Diego Union Tribune Sharon spending years southern Africa studying Zulu KwaZulu kingdom writing about nongovernmental organization fulfillment centers national needs developing countries where governments still feeling their toward fective administration SAHARA John Harris A would lawyer undergraduate degree History University Chicago John reverted international studies after internship product liability department Chicago years postgraduate Russian University Washington Seattle Based Moscow during fellowship John studying writing about Russia nascent political parties begin difficult transition identities based personalities their leaders positions based national international issues EU ROPE RUSSIA Pramila Jayapal Born India Pramila through primary secondary education Indonesia She graduated Georgetown University M B A Kellogg School Management Evanston Illinois She worked corporate analyst PaineWebber accounts manager world producer cardiac defibrillators recently managed million developing country revolving Program Appropriate Technology Health PATH Seattle Pramila spending years India tracing roots studying social issues volving religion thestatusofwomen populationandAIDS SOUTHASIA John B Robinson A Harvard graduate certificate proficiency Institute KiSwahili Zanzibar John spent years english teacher Tanzania He received Master degree Creative Writing Brown University He Delphine French oceanographer spending years Madagascar their young Nico Rowland where writing about varied aspects island nation struggle survive industrial natural resource exploitation effects rapidly swelling SAHARA Teresa C Yates Aformer member American Civil Liberties Union national force workplace Teresa spending years South Africa observing reporting forts Mandela government reform national tenure system A Vassar graduate withajurisdoctorfromtheUniversityofCincinnatiCollegeofLaw Teresahadan internship Centre Applied Legal Studies Johannesburg studying feasibility including social economic rights South African constitution SAHARA The Institute CurrentWorld Affairs 4WESTWHEELOCKSTREET HANOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE 03755 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Author Ball Christopher P Title ICWA Letters Europe Russia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions Mideast North Africa East Asia South Asia SubSaharan Africa The Americas Chosen basis character previous perience promise Institute Fellows young professionals funded spend years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique report analysis periodic assessment ternational events issues