Foreign Relations and the Diaspora During the Cold War: Australian–Hungarian Relations in the 1960s and 1980s

The article examines Australian–Hungarian foreign relations during the period of the Cold War, specifically between 1956 and 1988, often called the “Kádár era” after Hungary's leader of the time, János Kádár. Following the suppression of the 1956 Hungarian revolution, Hungary struggled to establish diplomatic ties with Western nations, including Australia. However, signs of thawing division emerged in the late 1960s, culminating in the reinstatement of diplomatic relations between Hungary and Australia in 1972. Hungary's primary objective was to cultivate economic relationships beyond the confines of the Eastern Bloc. Establishing diplomatic channels was just one facet of this effort. Hungary also aimed to gain insights into Australia's foreign policy stances. Additionally, the Hungarian diaspora in Australia emerged as a significant area of interest. As Ellen Gray has observed, Australia's Cold War foreign policy with the Soviet Union remained insufficiently studied for an extended period, a situation that also applies to smaller Socialist nations such as Hungary. Despite Hungary's limited international influence, its diplomatic and foreign policy decisions were significantly shaped by the Soviet Union; however, a closer analysis reveals both the interconnectedness and distinctiveness of each Eastern Bloc country's foreign policies. By drawing on archival materials from the Hungarian Foreign Ministry and State Security Authorities, this study uses new evidence to reconstruct the complex and multifaceted relationship between Hungary, Australia, and the Hungarian-Australian diaspora. Exploring foreign relations through the lens of trade and diaspora relations provides valuable insights into the foreign policies, nation building, and state security of both countries during the Cold War period.