It seems that Hungary has become a safe haven for Russian spies, as evidenced by the country’s laissez-faire attitude towards hostile intelligence activity. In fact, it is believed that Russian hackers have been infiltrating Hungary’s Foreign Ministry since 2012, while Russian spies have been operating in Budapest under diplomatic cover. It seems that Viktor Orban’s government has been willing to overlook these risks in order to maintain close ties with the Kremlin – much to the alarm of the rest of the Western alliance. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
