A Hungary divided

[baltur2]

This is a TL I've been working on, not sure how plausible it is, or if it will be a coherent storyline, or just a one-shot peppered with snippets of daily life.

In this TL, the Soviet Union didn't collapse, and the 1989 Revolutions of Eastern Europe were much more radical and violent, not just in Romania, but also in Hungary, East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia.

This resulted in various factions vying for power in Hungary during the early 90s, eventually carving up the country into three parts, each wanting to shape the Hungarian nation according to their specific ideologies.

A map of the divided Hungary of this TL:

Spoiler

The first part, the Kingdom of Hungary is the place where Monarchists, Historical Revisionists, and Turanists accepted an uneasy coalition with the goal of "Bringing back Hungary to its Pre-War glory." An interesting part of their ideology is that they are both pro-Asian and pro-German, but also anti-American.

The second part, the Republic of Hungary is the most similar to OTL Hungary, a pretty run-of-the-mill Central European country, similar to places like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. It is a member of the EU, and generally has good relations with Western- and Central-European EU-countries.

The third part, the People's Republic of Hungary is the part where pro-Communists took hold of power, rising up against pro-Western revolutionaries in the late 80s. There, Communist politicians lead the country with the goal to preserve 80s-style "Goulash Communism." It is in good relations with the Soviet Union, Cuba, Vietnam, China, and North Korea.



Kingdom of Hungary

Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head(s) of State: De jure: The Virgin Mary, The Holy Crown, and the Turul Bird. De facto: Emperor György Habsburg
Ideology: Hungarian Nationalism, Christian Nationalism, Revisionism, Monarchism, Turanism
State Religion: De jure: Roman Catholicism De facto: Shamanism/Christopaganism
Motto: "I believe in a God, I believe in a Fatherland, I believe in the Resurrection of Hungary!"
Coat of Arms
National Anthem: "Fly on, fly on heroic Hungarian pilot!"
Currency: Hungarian Pengő
Capital: Budapest (Buda), Győr
Parliament building: Buda Castle, and a futuristic Korean-style pagoda straddling the Mosoni-Danube river in Győr


Republic of Hungary

Government: Parliamentary Republic
Head(s) of State: János Áder, Viktor Orbán
Ideology: Liberal Conservatism, Pro-Europeanism
State Religion: Secular
Motto: None
Coat of Arms
National Anthem: Himnusz
Currency: Hungarian Forint
Capital: Budapest (Pest)
Parliament building: The Országház


People's Republic of Hungary

Government: Communist One-party State
Head of State: Gyula Thürmer
Ideology: Goulash-Communism, National Communism, Marxism-Leninism, Pro-Sovietism
State Religion: De jure: State Atheism De facto: Calvinism, Catholicism
Motto: "Workers of the world, unite!"
Coat of Arms
National Anthem: "Comrade, let's sing about our beautiful Hungarian Fatherland!"
Currency: De jure: Hungarian National Forint and Hungarian Convertible Forint De facto: Hungarian Forint, Euro, American Dollar
Capital: Budapest (21st district, Csepel)
Parliament building: The Home of the Workers of Csepel


What do you think about this premise and how plausible is it? Should I continue?

 

[Rosa Luxemburg]

The borders are disgusting and I love it. Please continue!

 

[baltur2]

Highlights from the Wikivoyage articles about the Kingdom of Hungary, and the People's Republic of Hungary. (The article for the Republic of Hungary is pretty similar to OTL):

Kingdom of Hungary

Understand

One of the most unique countries of Europe, sometimes hailed as the "Capital of Conservatism" and sometimes degraded as a "Hive of racism, misogyny and religious fanaticism" the Kingdom of Hungary is in many ways a time warp back to the 1930s and 40s, but also one of the most technologically advanced countries of Europe. With an ecletic mixture of Christianity and Paganism, of Western and Asian culture, of 19th century European village traditions and the latest Japanese robots, the Kingdom of Hungary is the perfect destination for the curious but cautious traveler.

Eat

The Kingdom of Hungary features the most authentic 19th century and Medieval European cuisine preserved in its strong rural peasant traditions, but also Europe's best Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Turkish, and Latin American restaurants.

Drink

Be aware that although the Kingdom of Hungary has liberally and cheaply available alcohol and tobacco, there is no legal drinking and smoking age, and natural ethenogens like Cannabis, Ayahuasca, and Magic Mushrooms are widely and legally used in Shamanistic rituals like the summoning of spirits and vision quests, the possession of even miniscule amounts of Synthetic drugs, like Heroin carries with it the Death Penalty.

Stay Safe

Unlike most Western countries, corporal punishment is widely used and is legal in the Kingdom of Hungary, in fact frequently and swiftly carried out by the Royal Gendarmerie on them noticing rowdy behavior, by beating with wooden sticks and whipping with a leather whip.

Although sexual intercourse between Lesbian women is legal, Homosexual activity between two men is punished by years in prison. LGBT travelers, take care!

Although East Asian, Central Asian, Turkish, Latin American, and North American Native people are warmly welcome in the country, and in fact locals are usually very interested in them, there is still a large amount of racism against Roma and Arabs, and Anti-Semitism against Jews. These displays of discrimination are ignored by the local police and gendarmerie.

Firearms are as legal and as liberally carried by the population as in the USA. If you get into a fight with someone, expect them to pull out a gun in self-defense.

Respect

Although widely known among foreign travelers as having the feeling of a "theme park", and usually compared to Narnia, Middle Earth from Lord of the Rings, and Azeroth from World of Warcraft, be aware that this is a real country with real people who lead normal day-to-day lives. Treating locals as props and requesting random "buddy photos" with them will get you the cold shoulder.

You may risk personal injury and possible deportation for the public advertisement of Western progressive, and "Social Justice" views.

Local Pagans usually take their religion as seriously as Christianity. Don't act like it is all a game or LARPing.

People's Republic of Hungary

Understand

Practicing a pioneering and liberal version of Socialism, affectionately called "Goulash Communism", the People's Republic of Hungary is the most developed and liberal of the remaining Communist countries of the world. Sometimes called "East Bloc for beginners", the People's Republic of Hungary is usually the first (and sometimes only) Communist state a Westerner visits. Retro enthusiasts can delight in the fact that entering the country is pretty much like traveling back to the 1980s.

Eat

Hungarian working-class cuisine is cheaply available in State-run canteens, although quality heavily varies. You're better off seeking out a private restaurant in the countryside, where the quality of food is more similar to that of the Republic of Hungary, and the Kingdom of Hungary. A highlight to the visitors of Csepel, the capital of the country is the chain of "Friendship Restaurants" located in the culture houses of "Brotherly Countries" serving Soviet, Cuban, Vietnamese, Chinese, and North Korean cuisine.

Drink

Featuring one of the cheapest prices for alcohol and tobacco in Europe, the People's Republic of Hungary is a popular destination to stock up on booze and smokes for Westerners. Be aware that the possession of all drugs (even Cannabis) is punished with years in prison.

Stay Safe

Policemen are known to be gruff, aggressive, and boneheaded, and are somewhat feared even by the general population. Don't get into an argument over a speeding ticket. You will lose the argument and likely spend the night in a dank cell featuring a metal pot as a toilet.
LGBT rights are almost as good as in the Republic of Hungary, although there are no programs among the general population which could lead to their wider acceptance. Don't advertise your sexual orientation and be discreet with your same-sex relationships, otherwise you risk getting beat up by a skinhead.

Respect

Although this is the most liberal and developed Communist state of the world, it is still a Single-Party Dictatorship which pays at least lip service to the ideals of Marxism and Leninism, and many locals are Communists who believe in the ideology. Both for your own safety and for avoiding offense don't mock local Communist traditions and values. (a possible exception is among young rockers and metalheads who are usually pro-Western).

 

[baltur2]

A map of the border situation in Budapest, which is divided between the three countries, and the respective parts of the divided city are their capitals:

Spoiler

As you can see, there is a narrow corridor connecting the Transdanubian and Cisdanubian parts of the Republic of Hungary, while the island of Csepel is ruled by the People's Republic of Hungary.

 

[Zurirach Adankar]

What do you think about this premise and how plausible is it? Should I continue?

Interesting scenario. Your scenario is an interesting balkanization and worldbuilding exercise.
As far as I know (and I know little about Hungary), your scenario isn't plausible.
But it would be fun, to read more about your three states. What is their foreign policy? Which governments are internationally recognized? What about the standard of life?

But here is a M-Bam for your Hungary. Are the borders correct?

 

[baltur2]

Interesting scenario. Your scenario is an interesting balkanization and worldbuilding exercise.
As far as I know (and I know little about Hungary), your scenario isn't plausible.
But it would be fun, to read more about your three states. What is their foreign policy? Which governments are internationally recognized? What about the standard of life?

But here is a M-Bam for your Hungary. Are the borders correct?
View attachment 490792

Yes, the borders are correct.

This project is more about an interesting exercise into Cultural Anthropology than about very realistic historical realism into how these three Hungarian states came to be.

Then again, the premise that in a more violent, tumultuous, and radical late-1980s, the country of Hungary itself could have split off into separate countries based on ideological divisions is not that implausible. After all there is the saying that "If three Hungarians are locked into a room, they will form four different political parties, and after an hour one of them will develop a schism."

Even nowadays in OTL there are suggestions on Hungarian forums that the country should be split among ideological lines, most often among three camps: 1. Those that are very liberal and pro-EU, 2. those that think that everything in Hungarian history since 1945 has been a mistake and should be rectified by bringing back early 20th century ideologies, 3. and those who think that the Golden Age of Hungary was the Goulash-Communism of János Kádár in the 1970s and 1980s, and Hungarians are "natural communists".

For now, I will post three songs, which lead the top leaderboards in Hungarian music in the 2010s in this TL, to get a feel for the cultural differences of the three Hungarian countries:

In the Kingdom of Hungary, the most popular song of the 2010s has been "The rain is falling, Sándor Rózsa is mourning." by "Romantic Violence", the lament of a late 19th century Hungarian "Betyár" (Outlaw) whose campaigns against rural inequality and Serbian militants have been unfruitful, because of the rapidly "civilizing" force of the Austro-Hungarian police.


In the Republic of Hungary, a popular song has been a love song by Szabyest, "House of Cards" not very different from Western love songs about disappointments in a relationship between young people.

In the People's Republic of Hungary, a somewhat behind-the-times disco song by "Kozmix", "Kozmix in da House" has reached popularity, famous both among common people for its melodious and happy feeling, and among authorities in providing entertainment while not violenting the status quo.

 

[Nephi]

Very fascinating borders you have.

The Kingdom of Hungary seems like it's a little isolationist. Even by default.

 

[baltur2]

Very fascinating borders you have.

The Kingdom of Hungary seems like it's a little isolationist. Even by default.

The Kingdom of Hungary has good relations with Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, and people can move between these countries with a simply ID-check at the border. Many times during the day, people in cars are even waved through by border guards, and young people on foot or on a bike between Hegyeshalom and Nickelsdorf are simply given no notice.

However, relations between the Kingdom of Hungary, and the People's Republic of Hungary (not to mention other Communist States) are sour to describe it lightly. Kingdom of Hungary-issued passports have the note: "This passport is valid for all countries of the world, except the People's Republic of Hungary, Cuba, Vietnam, the Soviet Union, the Chinese People's Republic, and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea." One native to the Kingdom of Hungary has to apply for a special permission to visit these countries, even the People's Republic of Hungary.

Conversely, People's Republic of Hungary passports only allow visits to "Brotherly Socialist countries" although a limited form of lightened travel regulations exists for people wanting to the travel to the Republic of Hungary.
Traveling to the Kingdom of Hungary, considered a "Fascist State" in local propaganda is of course out of the question.

A Republic of Hungary passport simply states "This passport is valid for all countries of the world" and a citizen of said country has complete freedom to visit any foreign place. Indeed one of the most liberal freedom of travel in the world is given by a Republic of Hungary passport. The only possible step-up is somehow acquiring a Republic of Hungary Diplomatic Passport. Both the Kingdom of Hungary, and the People's Republic of Hungary freely lets in citizens of the Republic of Hungary without any hassle.