How was Turanism present throughout Hungary’s history?
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In the vast array of ideologies that shape nations, one controversial concept is Turanism, a multifaceted belief system with a distinctive manifestation in Hungary. This blend of orientalism and nationalism challenges the conventional European narrative, advocating for a Hungarian identity rooted in Asia.
Tracing roots
TikTok creator, Turan Explorer made multiple compelling videos about Turanism in Hungary. According to him, understanding Turanism necessitates a closer look at Hungary’s linguistic and historical background. More than a millennium ago, Hungarians, akin to nomadic leaders like Attila the Hun, roamed Central Asia. Despite subsequent Europeanisation and Christianisation, the 18th to 20th centuries witnessed a resurgence of interest in Hungary’s Asian roots, spurred by the distinct Finno-Ugric nature of the Hungarian language.
Linguistic ties and cultural kinship
Proponents of Hungarian Turanism argued that the Finno-Ugric Hungarian language bore Turkic influences, suggesting historical ties between the Magyars and Turkic-speaking peoples. Emphasising shared cultural elements, folklore, and traditions, Turanism fostered a sense of kinship between the Magyars and Turkic nations. Ármin Vámbéry, a prominent Turanist, played a pivotal role in popularising these ideas, proposing a narrative of Hungarian origins in Central Asia.
Nationalism and Turanism
The roots of Hungarian Turanism delve into the nationalist sentiments that surged during the 19th century in Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Striving for greater autonomy and national identity, Hungarians sought an alternative narrative beyond European influences. Turanism emerged as a compelling ideology linking Hungarians to a broader, non-European heritage.
An academic perspective
Balázs Ablonczy’s work, “Keletre, Magyar! A magyar turanizmus története“, also delves into Hungarian Turanism. Ablonczy, an expert in Hungarian society and politics, navigates the complex landscape of Turanism. Around 1900, Hungarian Turanism evolved beyond a mere intellectual pursuit, becoming a financially rewarding venture. Key figures, including politicians like Mihály Károlyi and István Tisza, actively embraced Turanism, aligning scientific, political and economic interests. The Turanian Society, founded in 1910, played a pivotal role in Hungarian intellectual life and Balkan Hungarian politics between 1916 and 1918.
Hungarians are a Eurasian people from Central Asia. This is not even debated.
Wacky fringe-type Turanists will talk about Sumeria and Japan, but grounded Hungarian science shows Hungarian ancestry in Central Asia. More sane Turanists will focus on this aspect. This isn’t a controversial topic. The Turkic Council (Hungary is an observer state) even affirms this. If Hungary was playing pretend alone, then why do all of the Turkic nations embrace Hungarians as kinfolk? Answer: because they understand that, despite different modern religions and even appearances (European, Anatolian, Asian) that there is a core steppe origin that brings all together. It’s no secret. Look under any comment section in YouTube videos about Hungarian steppe culture and heritage and you will find hundreds of posts from Turks, Uzbeks, and more speaking with conviction about a shared kinship with Hungarians. This is a universal feeling.