Petőcz Kálmán (szerk.): National Populism and Slovak - Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006-2009 (Somorja, 2009)
László Öllös: Time for Hungarian-Slovak Dialogue (Conclusion)
László Ollós ty or at least suspiciously. The reasons for this status quo do not merely include historic experience but also contemporary interests and prevailing opinion streams. Our age is dominated by several ideological streams that view conflicts between individuals or entire social groups as the foundation of society and state. Although few leaders publicly subscribe to it, one of prevailing ideological streams in modem Slovakia that in many respects continues in the footsteps of the communist regime of Gustáv Husák is a stream that strives for dialectic update and preservation of the greatest possible number of original elements of Leninism that was ideologically rooted in Marxism. Under the pressure ensuing from the change of regime that inevitably made upholders of this ideology reject it formally, their objective has become to preserve as much of it as possible for the largest possible scope of subjects; in other words, the goal is to conserve the ideological content by altering its form. Political leaders confronted with ideological problems ensuing from the public’s changing moods during the process of regime transformation may dialectically respond to them by embracing certain elements of ideological streams that are close to the original content or external formal elements of the given ideological stream. If politicians are compelled to seek a new and effective form of class struggle against internal as well as external enemies (like Leninism managed to), it may result in most peculiar combinations. The Leninist understanding of philosophy-tumed-ideology views the argumentation system a tool of attaining power goals. Its principal benchmark is the outcome, i.e. victory. In the context of this understanding, other ideologies may also prove to be formally effective in a modem society. Nationalism may be successfully mixed with socialism, some elements of fascism, early as well as late variants of elitism, utilitarianism, etc. The tradition of regional small producers’ hostility with respect to tycoons and the tradition of politics for the people may complement the elite’s notions about inevitability of class and national struggle. The essence of these syntheses is the conviction that the history of mankind has always been propelled by struggle as opposed to peace, freedom, justice and cooperation. Many Slovak politicians and their ideological allies may rightfully believe that they owe their individual careers to this knowledge. It was this flexible ideological formula that made them abandon the once almighty Communist Party and continue their careers in a great multitude of new parties; that was what enabled them defeat their internal party rivals; last but not least, that was what allowed them to fan the flames of inherited emotions that will secure their voter support. 252
