Hungarian Elections and the Future of Nationalist Right in Central Europe

On April 3, the parliamentary elections in Hungary could be a turning moment for the country but also the whole Central European political landscape. We will discuss the Hungarian elections to answer several questions on the past and especially future of nationalist right in this Central European context: Will Viktor Orbán win again and why is Fidesz so strong after some many years in power? Or has the United for Hungary opposition found any viable strategy to overcome the phenomenon of nationalist or conservative right worth following elsewhere? Are the socio-economic topics or socio-cultural ones dominating the rise and (potential) fall of nationalist right? And would Fidesz´s loss actually change anything in Hungary or, more generally, Central Europe and beyond?

Joachim Becker is a Professor of Political Economy at the WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. Among other areas, his research forces on the dependent economic development, integration and disintegration processes, and the rise of nationalist right in Central Europe. He is also an Editor of the social science journal Kurswechsel and regular commentator for Slovak daily Pravda.

Pavel Barša is a Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University. Among other areas, his current research deals with the present neo-nationalist turn in Central Europe and can be found in his newly co-edited book Central European Cultural Wars: Beyond Post-Communism and Populism.

Zora Hesová is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University. Among other areas, her research deals with the cultural wars in Central Europe and can be found in her newly co-edited book Central European Cultural Wars: Beyond Post-Communism and Populism.

EDIT: The debate will be held at Faculty of Arts, Celetná 20, room C247