The ‘New’ Far Right in Hungary: A Political Psychologist’s Perspective

Abstract:

This article focuses on the party of Jobbik (‘The Better’) and places its rhetoric and activism within the context of the Hungarian political system and its internal pathologies. A deeper and broader insight of nationalism's socio-psychological appeal in Hungarian politics and society will help the reader understand better why and how the economic crisis has been a watershed for Jobbik's popularity among certain segments of the Hungarian electorate. This piece of work has primarily relied on a qualitative and discourse analysis of Jobbik's speeches, official statements and the party's political programme. Sources such as opinion polls and public surveys have also been of complementary importance. The research embeds this information in scholarly and theoretical literature in the thematic areas of Political Psychology and Nationalism. What this article demonstrates is that Jobbik has been particularly efficient in coordinating its socio-psychological campaign and mobilizing a series of social grievances for its political benefit. Meanwhile, the party has been equally successful in legitimizing its campaign by embedding it within the traditional framework of the political culture of nationalism in Hungary.