In Focus: A Regime Change(d), 1987-1993

It is thirty years now that, in Eastern and Central Europe, the world turned upside down. Our future, perhaps for the first time during that tormented century, finally seemed to look bright as we threw off the Soviet yoke and left the spectre of Communism behind. Changes came as a shock, as nobody really expected them—although many had hoped for them. However, the first years, despite all the faith pinned on them, turned out to be controversial, as people set their hopes too high, looking forward to reaching the Western lifestyle within a few years. In spite of the first hopes turning sour, today, the last thirty years give us the perspective to claim that the overall picture of the changes is positive; no one thinks nowadays that continuing the Socialist dream would have been a viable option for the country. The next two issues of In Focus magazine—first a Hungarian version, then an English facsimile—aim to weigh the nature of changes and pinpoint the main takeaways that can serve as an inspiration for the present and future. In this attempt, it strives to connect generations—help those who were witness to the events remember and those who were not there understand the importance those years, while also honouring the memory of József Antall whose name our institution bears.