External assessments of Visegrad since its international recognition over the “migrant” crisis
External assessments of Visegrad since its international recognition over the “migrant” crisis

Summary/Abstract: Unduly neglected and under-valued when recognized, Visegrad ironically gained its most intense international recognition when it adopted a contrarian position in the EU to address the so-called “migrant” crisis. The article identifies categories of perceptions of Visegrad’s behavior through analysis of major Western English-language media sources. Through contrast with official Central European and other coverage, the article further identifies what is missed – including the V4’s efforts to pre-empt migration to Europe through its initiative in Libya, and in how the crisis elevated Visegrad as more of a “brand.” Additionally, the article contends that Visegrad’s new negative appellations in Western media have not, however, contributed to a re-branding of the region as “Eastern Europe.” A concluding irony of the paper is, that while Visegrad has achieved unparalleled international attention, the logic behind its operations often continues to be misunderstood. That is shown through analysis of reporting on the rejected application of Slovakia and Hungary to the European Court of Justice to prevent mandatory relocation of migrants.

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