Course for international guest/part time students

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Organization

TTK Department of Social and Economic Geography

Code

lh2n9739

Title

Introduction to the human geography of Hungary

Usual semester

Spring

Published semester

2025/26/2, 2026/27/1

ECTS

5

Language

en

Learning outcomes

Knowledge: Participants will be introduced to Hungary from various human geographical angles (especially political, economic, historical, and urban geographical ones). Ability: Participants are enabled to understand and analyse socio-spatial processes in Hungary, as well as their differences to and similarities with other countries. Participants will also be enabled to understand and analyse Hungary’s place in Europe and the world. Attitude: Participants will not just shape their perceptions of Hungary based on media reports but gain deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by this country, while not excusing it for the missed opportunities and sometimes failed trajectories that it has taken. Autonomy and responsibility: Participants will better grasp Hungary’s partly unique features and partly similar characteristics to those of some of its neighbours. Beyond majority positions, those of minor and marginal groups will also be represented and analysed.

Course content

This course aims at introducing Hungary from human geographical perspectives. Focus is on recent and current developments, but some historical aspects are also dealt with. Hungary’s relations with its neighbours, Europe, as well as the wider world are also subjects of discussion. Participants are introduced to how different cultural, political, and socio-economic processes as well as ideas have shaped Hungary’s human geography. More specific themes discussed will be: a brief overview of Hungary’s history from geographical angles aspects of urban history and spatial planning, especially in Budapest socio-spatial fault-lines in Hungarian society the spatiality of Hungary’s ethnocultural and religious groups the co-existence of different and sometimes competing national narratives, and their mobilisation in Hungarian foreign as well as domestic policy Hungary’s complex and complicated relationship with the European Union Hungary’s economic performance and outlook, including centre-periphery relations Depending on the availability of the participants, a short study tour in Bp. takes place during one of the classes.

Assessment method

Participants are expected to read max. two provided articles related to each session. The final seminar mark is based on the final paper and its presentation (65%), a short oral presentation of an article review (15%), and active participation (20%).

Bibliography

Balogh P (2022) Clashing geopolitical self-images? The strange coexistence of Christian bulwark and Eurasianism (Turanism) in Hungary. Eurasian Geography and Economics 63(6) 726-752. Balogh P (2025) Hungary as a borderland nation. In: Routledge Handbook of European Borderlands, eds. JW Scott & TM Wilson. Routledge, London, pp 301-316. Egri Z (2023) Local Dimensions of Regional Income Inequalities in the 2010s – Geographical Proximity Based Experiences from Hungary. Deturope 15(1) 95-124. Erőss Á (2016) "In memory of victims”: Monument and counter-monument in Liberty Square, Budapest. Hungarian Geographical Bulletin 65(3) 237-254. Medve-Bálint G & Éltető A (2024) Economic nationalists, regional investment aid, and the stability of FDI-led growth in East Central Europe. Journal of European Public Policy 31(3) 874-899.

Programmes of the course