Beyond populism

Organised by

• Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
• EGPP: European Governance and Politics Programme

Political science usually analyses the politics of Eastern Europe's ultraconservative governments as instances of right-wing populism and democratic backsliding. I will argue that if we want to understand the rise and continuous success of these governments, these concepts address only a minor part of the puzzle. Based on the Hungarian example, I will show that Fidesz´ political strategy is built on a Gramscian script – i.e. an encompassing ideology-guided attempt to penetrate and transform civil society, the cultural sphere, political institution and the economy alike. This also implies that any attempt at challenging these type of governments needs to be fought over fundamental values, ideas and moral leadership, and in and through civil society as much as through institutions and legal procedures.