ABSTRACT
One of the most obvious characteristics of post-1989 Central Europe is the renewal of the political independence and international sovereignty of each nation state. Nation states in Central Europe emerged relatively late in modern European history, after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918. With the collapse of the communist regimes, new-born democracies and political elites in Central Europe had to formulate new political goals. The political ideals and principles of western liberal regimes have been adopted and, in spite of some political traditionalism and nationalist conservatism supported by some political parties in each country, have become a part of everyday political life in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Pogany questions the extent to which ideas of constitutionalism and the rule of law have ever operated effectively in Hungary to protect ethnic minorities, a sensitive topic in all the countries of Central Europe.
