The removal of gender studies from a list of approved master's programs in Hungary following publication of a government decree signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Friday, has been publicly denounced by Central European University, one of only two Hungarian universities to offer gender studies.

Tyrus Miller, dean of the University of California, Irvine is an expert source. He was also:

  • Director of the University of California’s Education Abroad Study Program from 2001- 2004
  • Has been a Fulbright Scholar in Budapest and Vienna
  • Published a number of scholarly works and translations on topics related to modern Hungarian art and culture.

“The removal of accreditation for gender studies master’s degree programs is a piece of a longer strategy on the part of Fidesz, Hungary’s ruling rightwing populist party, to carve away at the last remaining cultural and educational institutions not fully under government control. Central European University, a first-class research and teaching institution with explicitly international faculty and student body, financed by George Soros, has been especially targeted in recent years. Its founding was part of Soros’ desire to foster an open society and democratic thought in post-socialist countries.

“This international and liberal agenda is now threatened by the nationalist, populist and xenophobic politics of the ruling party, which has used control of academic accreditation to crack down on CEU for political reasons. In addition, gender and sexuality studies as a field stands in a very critical relationship to the conservative pro-family and anti-gay policies of the government, which makes these academic programs a particularly vulnerable target.

“But one should, nevertheless, not view this too narrowly as a matter of a content that the conservative government doesn’t like; it is much more a convenient premise to attack the independence of universities and the academic freedom of their faculty.”

Contact:

Email:   [email protected]

Phone:  949-501-1008