The Hungarian Foie Gras Boycott. Struggles for Moral Sovereignty in Postsocialist Europe
The Hungarian Foie Gras Boycott. Struggles for Moral Sovereignty in Postsocialist Europe
Author(s): Zsuzsa GilleSubject(s): Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Civil Society, Government/Political systems, EU-Legislation
Published by: SAGE Publications Ltd
Keywords: Hungary; politics of food; animal rights; European Union; morality; neoliberal governmentality;
Summary/Abstract: In 2008 an Austrian animal rights organization announced a boycott of Hungarian foie gras, arguing that force-feeding geese and ducks constitutes animal cruelty. The case received a lot of media attention and quickly evolved into a bitter conflict. The article scrutinizes the case as an example of postsocialist conflicts around ethics and morality and the concept of common good. The incident demonstrates not only unexpected obstacles for Hungary to be accepted as civilizationally European but also for Hungarian farmers’ ability to act as morally sovereign self-regulating subjects in a neoliberal world.
Journal: East European Politics and Societies
- Issue Year: 25/2011
- Issue No: 01
- Page Range: 114-128
- Page Count: 15
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF