Note that in Hungary, these research institutes, together with some university departments are traditionally the places to shelter smart people not liking the actual regime. Having done these changes, nobody will finance them and the research topics thought dangerous by the regime clerks.
"some resistance to these reforms comes from underperforming scientists, and an organization with ingrained nepotism like the Hungarian one could always benefit from objective performance metrics."
Although this is quite correct but I think because of the more and more toxic publish-or-perish system of science it is worth talking with a bit more nuance about objective performance metrics because often quantity is the go to way in measuring performance
After approximately 15 years of Viktor Orbán's autocracy, does anyone still harbor any good-faith illusions? To paraphrase: whatever you can steal today, don't postpone until tomorrow!
So many things in this country happening under the masquerade of democratic process, but in reality just a tool to enforce political control over each aspect of civil life.
Like the government surveys nicknamed "national consultation" where there are two answers to each question, one of them morally wrong but aimed to justify the government's actions,, the other is blatant stupidity, and even the question itself is either a straightforward lie, or manipulatively served mix of half-thruth and propaganda. Getting your facts right is getting more and more difficult, even for the well-informed observer, let alone the undereducated masses, who are much easier to manipulate, and keep the regime in power in spite of their own abysmal economic situation.
Note that in Hungary, these research institutes, together with some university departments are traditionally the places to shelter smart people not liking the actual regime. Having done these changes, nobody will finance them and the research topics thought dangerous by the regime clerks.
"some resistance to these reforms comes from underperforming scientists, and an organization with ingrained nepotism like the Hungarian one could always benefit from objective performance metrics."
Although this is quite correct but I think because of the more and more toxic publish-or-perish system of science it is worth talking with a bit more nuance about objective performance metrics because often quantity is the go to way in measuring performance
After approximately 15 years of Viktor Orbán's autocracy, does anyone still harbor any good-faith illusions? To paraphrase: whatever you can steal today, don't postpone until tomorrow!
So many things in this country happening under the masquerade of democratic process, but in reality just a tool to enforce political control over each aspect of civil life.
Like the government surveys nicknamed "national consultation" where there are two answers to each question, one of them morally wrong but aimed to justify the government's actions,, the other is blatant stupidity, and even the question itself is either a straightforward lie, or manipulatively served mix of half-thruth and propaganda. Getting your facts right is getting more and more difficult, even for the well-informed observer, let alone the undereducated masses, who are much easier to manipulate, and keep the regime in power in spite of their own abysmal economic situation.
A protest is being organised as we speak:
https://m.facebook.com/events/s/piros-lapot-a-kutatohalozat-sz/1352438299495468/