E-International Relations | Nicholas Morieson
Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary, while initially framed as a democratic victory, does not signify an immediate end to the populist era or a swift return to liberal democracy. The article argues that populist rule leaves an institutional "afterlife" by fundamentally reshaping state bodies. Orbán’s 16-year tenure saw his Fidesz government rewrite Hungary’s constitution, politicize appointments, and weaken institutional independence, transforming the bureaucracy, courts, and public broadcasters into extensions of the party’s populist-nationalist ideology. This institutional capture, also evident in India under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through incremental legal changes, pressure on accountability institutions, and partisan appointments, demonstrates that populists aim not to dismantle the state but to make it loyal to their political will. Reversing these changes is complex, as elections remove governments faster than they repair politicized institutions. This global challenge prompts efforts in countries like France to secure state institutions against future populist takeovers, risking exacerbated populist sentiment.
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