Hungarian-Mexican Relations between 1990 and 2020. A Perspective from Hungary

Abstract

This article is the result of an investigation whose aim is to study the interstate relations between Hungary and Mexico between 1990 and the present, 2020. The text has a chronological structure and is divided into two parts, the watershed being the accession of Hungary to the European Union in 2004. Mixed methods have been used: principally qualitative (discourse analysis) and in a minor portion quantitative one (statistical data). It was found that in the 20 years following the change of regime in Hungary, Latin America has been relegated to the periphery of its foreign policy, for the lack of financial resources and for concentrating on the process of accession to the EU. The number of Hungarian embassies in the region was reduced from eleven to four. The EU membership of Hungary had the potential of resulting in important changes, because this way the country became part of the already existing international agreements the organization had concluded with Mexico, and in general with Latin America. Besides, it obtained the possibility of actively forming these links. It is concluded that the opportunities present in the relations have not been sufficiently taken advantage of, the reasons being both internal and international.