The Rise of Populist Democrature in Hungary

Reykjavík.
Next up at ECPR 2011 is Maria Heller, whose focus is on the emerging ‘democrature’ in Hungary and the public discourse around this, especially in the context of Hungary’s role in the EU. The project found that the everyday reflections of lay persons about this are incoherent and confused, incorporating contradictory notions and feelings; in particular, they have very vague notions about the EU.

Further, individual interests play an important role in how people conceive of the EU; personal experience and attributes (travel, expected economic advantages, etc.) are also relevant here. Identification with the national community in Hungary is stronger than with the EU, and this is also driven by the legacy of the past, of course, with a persistent East/West divide perceived very strongly.

A strong imbalance between Hungary and the rest of the EU (especially western members states) is perceived: the West is seen as making decisions for Hungary, as if for a small child. This is also a symptom of ‘small nation’ syndrome, Maria says – in a weird mixture of an inferiority complex and strong national pride. Hungarians feel a lack of solidarity from the EU, and see themselves as second class citizens (while at the same time also lacking solidarity for even more disadvantaged European nations).

There is strong projection, too: problems are seen as the fault of others; additionally, ethnically and religiously exclusionist discourses are growing in Hungary, and incidents of hate speech, verbal, and physical violence are increasing. Some even perceive the EU through conspiracy theories (blaming various ‘hidden’ actors).

Additionally, of course, Hungary does not have strong democratic traditions, Maria says: there is low turnout at elections, leading to a two-thirds majority for the governing party even in the absence of a real popular mandate. Under the Orbán regime, Hungary is turning into an autocracy with strong parliamentary discipline and a gradual transformation of its legal and institutional systems in favour of specific political movements. Some Hungarian political decisions now clearly contradict EU norms, values, and directives.

The public sphere is being eroded, too – there is a lack of deliberation, cynical language and a strong push towards extreme right-wing discourses which instrumentalise ethnic and national conflicts for populist gains. EU issues are rarely tackled, and there is growing anti-EU rhetoric.