This week’s Becker-Rose Café guest speaker was Professor Holly Case, a professor specializing in modern East-Central and Southeastern Europe studies.  She shared with us her knowledge of the current refugee crisis in Hungary.

Professor Case explained that the influx of refugees is creating confusion and hostility among citizens.  This fear makes the effort of working with asylum seekers and migrants more difficult.  Many citizens are not very likely to help the refugees.  There have been fences constructed to prevent refugees from entering the country and violence erupting in multiple places.

Professor Case also touched upon the Hungarian Two-tailed Dog Party, a joke political party created to mock the national government.  Political extremists are exacerbating the crisis further.  There is no clear majority between opposing political parties.

However, there are some good people who are trying to cooperate to help the refugees.  While some soldiers wore face masks and gloves and kept their distance from the refugees, some other citizens interacted more personally with the refugees and directly handed them food and embraced them.

Professor Case’s talk made me wonder if human rights activist groups such as the newly established Amnesty International on Cornell’s campus might be able to take a stand and raise awareness for the refugee crisis.  Perhaps if people were more knowledgable about the current situation, they might be more willing to unite together and work towards change.