The Politics of Populism in Hungary

The book evaluates the growth of the Orbán regime in Hungary after 2010 by examining the impacts of populism on discourse, decisions, and policies. It analyzes constitutionalism, discriminatory legalism, democracy quality, media-government relations, party system, EU politics, and family and cultural policies. It interprets the results under smart populism, where the people's moral definition limits political opposition, the elite is selected based on their applicability to a political narrative, and the people's will is determined from above. The book is of interest to students and scholars of democracy, party politics, the rise of populism, and contemporary Hungarian politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book delves into the evolution of the Orbán regime in Hungary after 2010, examining the profound impacts of populism as an ideology on the realms of polity, politics, and policy. Through a comprehensive analysis of political narratives, actual decisions, and survey data, this volume offers a systematic exploration of the consequences of populism on the political landscape of Hungary post-2010. It delves into the intricate ways in which populism has been employed, including the utilization of constitutionalism and discriminatory legalism, the alterations in the quality of democracy, the government's relationship with media and journalism, its influence over the party system and EU politics, and its approaches to family and cultural policies. While each chapter in the volume presents the findings in response to the corresponding literature, highlighting the unique insights provided by individual analyses, the book interprets the overall results within the framework of smart populism. This concept encompasses a moral definition of the people that permits limited political opposition, the selection of elites based on their multifaceted applicability for constructing a political narrative, and the determination of the will of the people from above. Additionally, the volume offers insightful responses to the challenges posed by smart populism.

This book holds particular appeal to students and scholars engaged in the study of democracy, party politics, the rise of populism, and contemporary Hungarian politics. Its comprehensive examination of the multifaceted effects of populism on the political sphere provides valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of governance and societal change in Hungary.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032075679