Rise of Far-Right Politics in Hungary and Slovakia

Far-Right Politics in Hungary and Slovakia

What and why, focusing on the Hungarian case and a piece about Slovakia.

Similarities Between the Movements

• 1. Parliamentary Influence: Both far-right parties started to gain influence by gaining small percentages of seats in the parliament.
  • a. Slovakia: Current situation.
  • b. Hungary: Started with 2% in 2006, reached 20% in 2014.
• 2. Rejecting Refugees:
  • a. Both are external EU borders; many refugees to Europe pass through Slovakia and Hungary.
  • b. Spread of Islamophobia.
  • c. The Slovak PM said Muslims cannot be incorporated into Europe.

Note: All European far-right parties are anti-immigration.

Differences in Political Strategy

• 1. Hungary is further along: Anti-Semitic rhetoric and seeking to eliminate the Central European University.
• 2. Slovakia's EU Cooperation: Slovakia is trying to work with the EU to solve the influx of refugees, whereas Hungary wants to build a wall.
• 3. Community Focus: Hungary has a stronger anti-immigrant community, while Slovakia has a stronger emphasis on domestic issues (failing healthcare system, education system, etc.).
  • a. Hungary (2015): Built a fence along the Southern border (Orban). More restrictive refugee policies. 5% Roma population.
  • b. Slovakia (2016): Parliamentary election led to a far-right coalition. 2% Roma population.

General Reasons for the Far-Right Rise

1. The diminished role of family, local community, professional organizations, and traditional civil society organizations leave people distant and detached from the social order.
2. The decline of the pluralist society.
3. In an effort to counter social isolation, people replace the absence of such with different social networks (i.e., authoritarian social movement organizations that offer "quasi-communities").

Defining Far-Right Ideology

1. Ethnic Politics

• Encourages ethnic reductionism.
• Diminishes all social issues to ethnic blame (e.g., Hungary blaming Roma and Jews for capitalism).

2. Nationalism

• Isolationism and "country first" mentality.
• Protectionist trade policies.
• Anti-EU sentiment.

The European Context

According to a New York Times overview of the far-right in Europe, this may not be uniquely post-communist. The article suggests it is not merely a legacy of communism but more of a European phenomenon.

Challenges for Post-Communist Countries

Immigration is difficult for post-communist countries because of:

• 1. Communist era legacy.
• 2. Previous ethnic issues.
• 3. Religious issues.
• 4. They are neither wealthy nor poor countries.
• 5. Previous far-right movements.