
Danube Institute Podcast
The Danube Institute was established by the Batthyány Lajos Foundation in 2013 in Budapest, with the aim of encouraging the transmission of ideas and people within the countries of Central Europe and between Central Europe, other parts of Europe, and the English-speaking world.
The Institute itself has been committed from its foundation to three philosophical loyalties: a respectful conservatism in cultural, religious, and social life, the broad classical liberal tradition in economics, and a realistic Atlanticism in national security policy.
Latest episodes

May 7, 2024 • 32min
'Radical Islamist Say: On Saturday We Kill Jews, On Sunday We Kill Christians' - Nadia Matar Part 2
In this episode of Reflections from Budapest, we continued our discussion with Nadia Matar, co-chairman of the Sovereignity Movement. We asked Mrs Matar about the Islamic extremism and security in the West Bank. In our conversation we also discussed the Gaza War and the case of the hostages. In the end, Mrs Matar shared with us her views about the Israeli sovereignity and the future of the West Bank and Gaza.

May 6, 2024 • 40min
'Anti-Zionists are Anti-Semitic As They're Against Jewish People Having Their Indigenous Homeland'– Discussion with Shirel Liberman Part 1
In this episode of Reflections from Budapest, we had a two-part discussion with Shirel Liberman, an Israeli influencer of the Voices of Israel program, Chief of Operations at Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy and the co-founder of "Shift," a women-led impact network aimed at supporting women in public diplomacy and enhancing Israel's positive global influence. In this part, we started our conversation by asking Shirel about her previous experiences with pro-Israel advocacy. As Shirel was also involved in the We're Brothers Initiative, which formed before October 7th at the time of the mass anti-government protests against judicial reform to bring people together, we discussed how a deeply divided society became united for a couple of months following the October 7th massacre. We concluded by discussing the rise of anti-Semitism around the world, Zionism and its major role in the Israeli society.

Apr 25, 2024 • 2h 18min
The Reality of Civilizations
In this episode of Danube Dialogues, John O'Sullivan and Eric Hendriks discuss the reality of world-cultural zones with James Bennett, the popularizer of the term "the Anglosphere".

Apr 24, 2024 • 58min
China Keywords - Wangdao
This is the second webinar in the “China Keywords” series of the Telos-Paul Piccone Institute. In this webinar, Eric Hendriks, the director of TPPI's China Initiative, and Logan West of the Danube Institute talk with Yan Xuetong about the concept of Wangdao, or "The Kingly Way." Among China's most influential foreign policy thinkers, Yan Xuetong is the author of numerous books, including Analysis of China's National Interests (1996), Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power (Princeton University Press, 2011), and Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers (Princeton University Press, 2019). He is a distinguished professor and dean of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University.

Apr 22, 2024 • 49min
'From The River To The Sea Arab Leaders Do Not Want To See Any Jew'-Discussion With Nadia Matar Part 1
In this episode of Reflections from Budapest, we asked Nadia Matar, co-chairman of the Sovereignity Movement. We asked Mrs Matar about the Jewish identity and its connection to the Land of Israel. Since Nadia Matar currently live in the West Bank, she gave us insight into the situation of the israeli settlement in the region and the relation with the Palestinians. Mrs Matar also share with us her personal memories and thoughts about the most famous persons in the settlement history.

Apr 15, 2024 • 49min
Discussion with Josh Hasten - On settlements, settler violence, October 7 and the reaction of Western media
In this episode of Reflection from Budapest, we interviewed Josh Hasten, International Spokesperson for Gush Etzion, host of the weekly “Israel Uncensored” program and a well-known award winning freelance journalist. Through the discussion we can learn about the settlements and the perception of settler violence in the media and the Western world. We also touched upon the events of October 7 and the possible consequences of the UN Security Council resolution issuing an immediate ceasefire.

Apr 3, 2024 • 50min
Christians in the Middle East, a Perspective of an Aramaic Christian - Discussion with Mr Shadi Khalloul
In this episode of Reflections from Budapest, we interviewed Shadi Khalloul, Director of Strategic Partnerships Alma Research & Education Centre, Founder and President of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association and Aram Galilee Centre, and reserve captain in the IDF. Listening to the discussion, we can get an overview of the history of the Aramaic community in the Middle East and Israel, and a deeper insight into their life today in a Jewish state. Also, how do other religions in the country and the region relate to them?

Mar 27, 2024 • 20min
’The Only Way to Fight Against Terror is Destroying it From the Ground so That it Won’t Have Any Power’– Discussion with Amiad Cohen Part 2
In this episode of Reflections from Budapest, we continued our discussion with Amiad Cohen, director-general of the Tikvah Fund in Israel. We asked Mr Cohen about his intake on Hungary’s strong support of Israel, the IDF’s operation in Rafah, and his insights into the historical background of the current conflict in Gaza. To conclude, we talked about how the war impacted the West Bank, the possibility of a third Lebanon war, and the future of the Middle East in the day after the Israel-Hamas war.

Mar 26, 2024 • 58min
War and the Threat of Self-Deception
"In war it is perfectly acceptable to lie to your enemy," says Professor David Betz of King's College London, "lying to yourself, though, is the kiss of death". In this episode of the Buda Hills Podcast, we discuss the ways in which Professor Betz thinks the collective West has been lying to itself about war in the twenty-first century.

Mar 22, 2024 • 33min
‘We Can’t Live With a Barbaric Country and Culture on our Borders’– Discussion with Amiad Cohen Part 1
In this episode of Reflections from Budapest, we asked Amiad Cohen, director-general of the Tikvah Fund. Since the October 7th massacre, Mr Cohen has been on reserve duty; we asked about his experiences and role in the IDF. Mr Cohen detailed Hamas’s intention behind October 7th and his views on the impossibility of a two-state solution in the foreseeable future, Palestinian violence in the West Bank and the importance of Judea and Samaria for Israel.