Deradicalisation of Jobbik and its consequences – a visual ethnographic analysis of the symbolic and ritual change of a Hungarian radical right party

ABSTRACT

This article analyses the Hungarian populist radical right party Jobbik’s deradicalisation process and its manifestations in the symbolic and ritual sphere. It contrasts visual ethnographic material collected during the national day commemorations in Budapest in 2013–2014 with new material collected in 2017–2019. Jobbik’s controlled top-down-led moderation, aimed at widening the voter base, and moved the party from a strict ideological nativism towards a more flexible right-wing populism. However, stripping the party from its radicalism meant losing the rich nationalist symbolism, rituals, and the power and solidarity connected to them. Jobbik’s transformation led to emptiness in the symbolic and ritual sphere, which used to be crucial for the radical right subculture that surrounded the party and its core supporters’ self-identification. The deradicalisation process led also to the emergence of a radical right splinter party, Mi Hazánk, which quickly appropriated the nationalist and revisionist symbols earlier used by Jobbik.

KEYWORDS:

• Jobbik
• Hungary
• radical right
• nationalism
• symbols and rituals
• visual ethnography

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The 1920 Treaty of Trianon and the consequent loss of two-thirds of the territories that were earlier part of Hungary caused embitterment in Hungarians and revision became the main aim of the politics. During the inter-war years Hungary was led by national conservative Regent Miklós Horthy whose policies aimed at regaining the lost territories. Even if none of the current parties make openly revisionist claims, the Treaty of Trianon is far from forgotten in Hungary. It remains central for the Hungarian national identity, especially among the right-wing parties and their supporters.

2 A photo essay consists of several photographs that tell a story. In addition to photographs, they can include written comments.

3 Miklós Horthy was the Regent of Hungary, leading the country between World War I and II.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Kone Foundation [grant number 201710292].