Hungarian minister: Europe youth becoming radical
In a speech at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics said that a generation change is taking place with the youth using Europe as an “online platform” for communicating their political messages in memes and collating simplified and pointed messages.
This generation change is steering Europe towards polarisation and radicalisation, Navracsics said in his address prior to the general assembly meeting of the Hungarian Atlantic Council, MTI reported.
The youth today have grown up integrated entirely into a democratic and uniform Europe and are part of an online revolution, he said. “They see the world and the problems differently, which is the first important factor,” the minister said.
Radical parties are coming up in Europe while moderate conservatives are either turning radical or they are becoming weaker, he said. “The messages of liberal parties become more and more radical whereas Christian Democrat has become a synonym of being an opposition force,” Navracsics said, adding that the situation of the Social Democrats “isn’t much better, either”. “Because of this, the disputes are becoming sharper,” he said.
Navracsics said that the Russian-Ukrainian war raised questions concerning Europe’s security. The war’s message, he said, was that “the myth of Europe’s invulnerability has permanently collapsed,” adding that it turned out that mankind had not learnt any lessons from history.
Navracsics called a ceasefire key to stopping the war and giving way to talks to be launched as soon as possible in the interest of brokering a just and fair peace.
“If this war escalates, it will threaten the future of Europe,” the minister said.
The future of Europe also depends on how successful the efforts towards turning it into a cultural community would be. “It is a promise still unfulfilled and explains the internal conflicts within the community; if we understood each other’s culture, it would help spare most of our political disputes,” Navracsics said.
Becoming radical? Hah, youth has always been radical and youth ideas are always frowned on by older generation. I think what we call concervative now was considered radical 50 years ago. Mankind, including minister Tibor, certainly has not learned from the history. But changes are inevitable and I hope the youth will drive mankind into a more open mind societies respecting and understanding different values rarher than pushing one religious values for all.
Ostanus- What religious values would they be. The main religions are very different – one teaches tolerance – the other – do as I say, or your dead.
The US is paying for 80% of europes defense with Europe twice pop 20% going on 70 years and they are concerned- give me a break.
TM: Basically all religions that put their values above all other. And religious leaders like the Russian Patriarch (and whatever muslim leaders) who support wars in the name of religion. And of course discrimination or other unethical practices in the name of religion should not be tolarated. I am not gonna name any specific value from any religion as I´m not an expert. Yes, religions have a lot of good ethics in their values too. I still think societies development should be purely based on good general ethics and tolerance and especially science.
I just dont like it when political leaders refer to building the future based on one religious values. I dunno if minister Tibor is like that though, I just think he shouldn´t be worried about losing “Christian democarcy” as long as there is democracy supported by good ethics. I just generally wish religions (be it Christian, Muslim, whatever) would be kicked out from political decision making and it would be replaced with science based.