Populism in Hungary - A study of the Fidesz- KDNP government of Hungary in the period between 2010 and 2019
Author
Szabó, Gábor
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2019
Pages
46
Abstract
Populisme er blevet mere synlig i EU, men begrebet bruges ofte forskelligt i medier og forskning. Dette speciale undersøger, hvad populisme betyder i praksis, ved at analysere den ungarske Fidesz–KDNP-regering under Viktor Orbán fra 2010 til 2019. Specialet bruger en bred forståelse af populisme som en politisk stil, der hævder at tale på vegne af “folket” mod “eliten”. Det vurderer, at den ungarske regerings populisme kan beskrives som politisk, konservativ højrepopulisme. Analysen peger på flere kendetegn, som kan genfindes hos Fidesz–KDNP: regeringen siger, at den udfordrer eliten; den har ikke en klar, sammenhængende politisk dagsorden; den bruger propaganda i sine budskaber; den fremhæver ønsket om at bevare et kristent Ungarn; den har en karismatisk leder i Viktor Orbán; og den retter stærk kritik mod Den Europæiske Union. Specialet gennemgår også metoder, som populister kan bruge til at fastholde magten, og identificerer dem i den ungarske kontekst: indgriben i områder, der normalt er uafhængige af direkte statskontrol, såsom uddannelse og retsvæsen; omfattende klientelisme (belønning af tilhængere); trusler mod kritikere; og kritik af ngo’er. Når specialet ser på, hvorfor Fidesz er populær, peger det på en kombination af forhold: mistillid til venstrefløjens politik, skabelsen af et centralt problem, som regeringen tilbyder løsninger på, samt en oplevelse af professionalisme. Specialet konkluderer, at den nuværende ungarske regering opfylder akademiske kendetegn ved populisme gennem handlinger, der omfatter overtagelse af statslige mekanismer, begrænsning af politiske og civile rettigheder, klientelisme samt brug af propaganda og konspirationsteorier.
Populism has become more prominent in the EU, yet the term is used in different ways by media and scholars. This thesis examines what populism looks like in practice by analyzing Hungary’s Fidesz–KDNP government under Viktor Orbán from 2010 to 2019. It applies a broad understanding of populism as a political style that claims to speak for “the people” against “the elite,” and identifies the Hungarian case as political, conservative right-wing populism. The analysis highlights features found in the government’s approach: it says it challenges the elite; it lacks a clear, coherent policy agenda; it uses propaganda in political messaging; it promotes maintaining a Christian Hungary; it is led by a charismatic figure, Viktor Orbán; and it strongly criticizes the European Union. The thesis also reviews techniques associated with maintaining power and finds them in the Hungarian context: involvement in areas usually independent of direct state control, such as education and the judiciary; mass clientelism (rewarding supporters); threats against critics; and criticism of NGOs. In exploring Fidesz’s popularity, it points to a mix of factors: declining trust in left-wing politics, the creation of a central issue to which the government offers solutions, and a perception of professionalism. The thesis concludes that the current Hungarian government matches academic definitions of populism through actions that include taking control of state mechanisms, limiting political and civil rights, clientelism, and the use of propaganda and conspiracy theories.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Keywords
populism ; Hungary ; Viktor Orbán ; Fidesz ; propaganda
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