On the following pages I will outline the current political situation, define everyday life and then talk about the consequences of change in Hungary.
Spending my semester abroad in Hungary is more due to chance than it was a personal decision. Originally I wanted to go to Istanbul in Turkey. In addition to Western culture, one thing that interested me most about this country was the lack of press freedom. I wanted to know what it's like to live in a country where press freedom and freedom of expression are not self-evident. However, at a relatively short notice, a student from the Netherlands was jailed in prison and my university ended its cooperation with Istanbul. There were only a few countries to choose from, one of which was Hungary. And since the situation of freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not exactly the same but similar to Turkey, I decided to spend my semester abroad in Budapest. After living in Budapest for the past few months, I got an insight into daily life in Hungary. During my time here, the elections took place (8.04.2018) and I found myself in the midst of a political change that, of course, also influenced everyday life. In the time period before the election, the country was obviously in a tense atmosphere. Election posters lined every street, every path. Fidesz pens were distributed in the pedestrian zone, Fidesz advertisement was in the mailboxes. No one talked about their own political opinions in the street, but it became visible: at the partys’ electoral posts in
Budapest, the post of Momentum party at Deak Ferenc Square was almost unremarkable, while the Fidesz or Jobbik posts were well under pressure, or in bars, in left autonomous centers like the Gólya or Auróra, Orbán was mocked, and elsewhere, right-wing people tried to intimidate other-minded people. The elections on 8. April 2018 were a great victory for Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz party. Fidesz reached a two-thirds majority, although the opposition has received more votes thanks to the Hungarian electoral system, Viktór Orbán is now in power for a another four years and his policies will of course have an impact on citizens' everyday lives.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Current politics in Hungary
3. Definition of Sociologies of everyday life
4. Activism
5. Migration
6. Rituals
7. Reporting
8. Radicalization
8.1 Growing resentment against foreigners
8.2 Growing antiziganism
8.3 Growing antisemitism
8.4 Radicalization in the example of the football community
9. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how current authoritarian political developments in Hungary manifest within the everyday lives of citizens, specifically focusing on societal radicalization, media suppression, and shifts in public discourse. The analysis explores how political strategies influence social cohesion and individual perception.
- Political transformation and authoritarian trends in Hungary
- The impact of state-controlled media and reporting
- Sociological perspectives on everyday life and activism
- Radicalization patterns regarding minorities (foreigners, Roma, Jews)
- The role of nationalism and rituals in political communication
Excerpt from the Book
8. 3 Growing antisemitism
Four days after the election victory Orbán, the pro-government journal “Figyelő” published a list of 200 people allegedly belonging to the network of US billionaire and philanthropist George Soros under the title “The People of the Speculator”. This incitement of the Orbán government against Soros has been going on for years. According to Koltai (2018) the "demonization of Soros marks another step in the regime's evolution. The vulgar hate campaign against him has institutionalized thinly veiled antisemitic language, making it part of everyday life". He continues that Hungary might be exceptional in both open and coded antisemitism shapes in public discourse. "Hungary has a rich antisemitic tradition and many citizens remain susceptible to it. Indeed, the entire Hungarian right has worked to revive this language since 1990, and today it has moved to the level of everyday state discourse" (KOLTAI, 2018). For example if we replace the word “Soros” with “Jews” in the hundreds of statements the government’s spokespersons and supporters have made, we find the standard tropes of interwar antisemitism: alien parasites and rootless cosmopolitans conspiring against the nation. If this kind of antisemitism is already that widely accepted and part of Hungarian language in everyday life it will probably grow even more under the new Orbán regime. Perhaps some Orthodox Jews will no longer show their religion so openly in the future. Already some Jews have suffered insults in the Jewish quarter in Budapest. Maybe they would not dare to leave the house with kippah or even could cut off their sideburns in future.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author provides personal motivations for the study and outlines the socio-political climate in Hungary surrounding the 2018 elections.
2. Current politics in Hungary: This chapter analyzes Viktor Orbán's political consolidation, his stance on migration, and the challenges faced by the fractured opposition.
3. Definition of Sociologies of everyday life: The text establishes a theoretical foundation by defining sociology as the investigation of the organization and meaning of daily human experiences.
4. Activism: This section covers public reactions to political policies, specifically highlighting protest movements and their role in collective political participation.
5. Migration: The chapter explores the demographic trend of emigration among young Hungarians and the government's rhetoric regarding migration.
6. Rituals: This analysis discusses how political groups utilize historical commemorations and rituals to project power and create enemy images.
7. Reporting: The author details the decline of media independence and the impact of government-controlled information channels on public discourse.
8. Radicalization: This central chapter investigates the rise of societal prejudices, including xenophobia, antiziganism, and antisemitism, as well as their manifestation in sports.
9. Conclusion: The concluding section summarizes the political transformation of Hungary and reflects on the future implications of the current governance for the populace.
Keywords
Hungary, Viktor Orbán, Authoritarianism, Everyday Life, Radicalization, Media Freedom, Nationalism, Xenophobia, Antiziganism, Antisemitism, Activism, Migration, Political Communication, Sociological Analysis, Fidesz.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how authoritarian political changes and nationalist policies in Hungary during the Orbán era affect the daily lives and perceptions of its citizens.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the analysis?
The core themes include the erosion of press freedom, political activism, migration trends, the usage of rituals for political messaging, and the rise of radical social prejudices.
What is the main objective of this study?
The goal is to demonstrate how macro-political decisions under the current regime trickle down to influence social discourse and individual behavior in everyday settings.
Which scientific approach is utilized by the author?
The paper employs a qualitative sociological approach, combining literature review with observations of public discourse and political events to analyze social structures.
What does the main body of the paper address?
It covers a detailed breakdown of political tactics, the state of the media, and specific case studies on how marginalized groups, such as refugees and the Roma, are targeted by political rhetoric.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as authoritarianism, radicalization, Hungary, press freedom, nationalism, and societal polarization.
How does the author characterize the role of media in Hungary?
The author argues that media in Hungary has become increasingly dominated by state-sponsored propaganda, which limits information diversity and suppresses dissenting voices.
What role does the football community play in the context of the author's argument?
The author highlights the football community as a space where xenophobic and antisemitic ideologies are frequently expressed and exploited by extremist groups.
What is the significance of the "Soros" discourse mentioned in the book?
It is presented as an example of how the government institutionalizes antisemitic tropes through state-level rhetoric, effectively influencing public opinion and social norms.
- Quote paper
- Sophie Emilie Beha (Author), 2018, How I see current authoritarian political changes in Hungary appearing in people's everyday life, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/517329
