In “Hungary, March 2013, Part I: Declining Liberty, Poor Economy,” we reviewed the government’s continued attacks on freedom, its creation of uncertainty, and the resulting poor economy. The Fidesz party, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has controlled the government since 2010.
As we noted, the poor economy encourages the growth of bigotry and extreme nationalism. These phenomena, combined with the growing authoritarianism of the government, are the elements of neofascism. (The views expressed in both parts of the article are strictly the author’s, except as otherwise reflected.)
Neo-Fascism
William Wheeler, in his November 2012 article, “Europe’s New Fascists,” observed:
Far-right ultranationalist groups are exploiting old enmities and new fears across the Continent. Although this is not the Europe of the 1930s, the disillusioned citizens of countries like Greece and Hungary have turned increasingly to simple answers, electing parties that blame familiar scapegoats — Jews, Gypsies, gays and foreigners — for their ills.
Mr. Wheeler noted, “Unlike Greece, Hungary has a history of fascist groups, including the Hungarian National Front, an anti-Semitic, anti-Roma group that established an annual international neo-Nazi event and regularly holds paramilitary training exercises ….
He described Jobbik, Hungary’s third largest party:
In 2009, Jobbik, a self-described ‘radically patriotic Christian party’ with an affiliated militia, entered Hungary’s Parliament. To rally its base, the party often relies on hate marches and intimidation campaigns that stoke racist fervor.
Mr. Wheeler noted that Fidesz “is eager to win back some far-right voters it lost to Jobbik, so it won’t push back.”
In another article, in January 2013, “Europe and the Resurgent Politics of Ethnic Scapegoating,” Mr. Wheeler recounted the shocking incident in November 2012 when Marton Gyongyosi, a Jobbik member of the Parliament, “called for the creation of a list of Hungary’s Jews, especially those in government, ‘who represent a certain national security risk.’” He also reviewed another disturbing event, in January, when “Zsolt Bayer triggered a public backlash by writing that ‘most Gypsies are unsuitable for co-existence, unsuitable for living among people. These Gypsies are animals…’”
On March 19, Paul A. Shapiro, Director of the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, presented prepared testimony before the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe in the hearing on “The Trajectory of Democracy – Why Hungary Matters.” (We discussed the testimony at this hearing, of Kim Lane Scheppele, on the effect of the constitutional changes, in Part I of this article.)
Mr. Shapiro explained the concern with “the broad political trends” discussed at the hearing:
For anyone who is familiar with the history of Nazi Germany and the other fascist and authoritarian regimes that appeared in Europe in the middle of the 20thcentury—and especially for Holocaust survivors who experienced the full fury of those times and those regimes—what is happening in Hungary today will sound eerily familiar and ominous.
He then reviewed the many recent examples of bigotry in Hungary, in addition to those described above, concluding:
In short, the history of the Holocaust is under assault in Hungary and the rehabilitation of some of the people responsible for the murder of 600,000 of the country’s Jews during the Holocaust is well under way. An atmosphere has been created in which it is understood that anti-Semitic and anti-Romani discourse, and even intimidation and violence, will not elicit effective government action to alter the situation.
Mr. Shapiro also discussed the culpability of Fidesz. He cited “[t]he participation of Fidesz members and government officials in activities that further inflame the toxic atmosphere” and the failure to distance the party “unequivocally from Jobbik.”
The perception that Fidesz has failed to distance itself from Jobbik is widely shared. For instance, Max Berley, a member of the Bloomberg View editorial board, observed in December, “In solidifying his hold on power, Orban has shown a disquieting tolerance for Jobbik … and for its bald appeals to the politics of resentment.”
Countering Neofascism
As we discussed in Part I, there has been widespread criticism, within Hungary and internationally, of Fidesz’s move towards authoritarian rule. The same is true of the bigotry and exteme nationalism. One response to the threat has been that the Jewish communities have formed a watchdog organization to “monitor and counter anti-Semitism.” We discuss another response below.
Hungarian Free Market Foundation
In “Hungary, Part II: Reason for Hope,” published last May, we discussed the work of the Hungarian Free Market Foundation [link updated on March 10, 2014], a member of the network of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. We included an interview with Zoltán Kész, the co-founder and director.
The organization continues to promote economic freedom. For instance, in response to the government’s new requirement that the schools teach morality, the foundation has offered schools copies of The Morality of Capitalism in Hungarian. The foundation also will make presentations in schools based on the book. (The article on this is in Hungarian. Use Google Chrome for automated translation.)
We saw Mr. Kész again at the Atlas Freedom Forum and Liberty Dinner held in New York City in October 2012, and discussed his organization’s concern with the threat of neofascism. The foundation is now working specifically to address this, while continuing its efforts to advance economic freedom. A freer economy will lead to greater opportunity and prosperity, helping discourage neofascist activity.
Zoltán Kész and the author at Atlas Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner, 2012
In an article published by Students for Liberty this month, “The Young and the Reckless: A Brief History of Modern Right-Wing Nationalism in Hungary,” Mr. Kész explains the history of Jobbik. Among the disturbing facts: “[A]ccording to recent surveys, Jobbik attracts 33% of university students, and out of them, 52% say that in some cases, they would prefer dictatorship over democracy.”
In the article, Mr. Kész discusses the foundation’s plans:
The … Foundation has launched a campaign to fight radicalism. We have already addressed the issue on the national level and published case studies and research. (http://kapitalizmus.hvg.hu/2013/01/15/milliardos-karokat-okoztak-a-rasszistak-magyarorszagnak/) We are starting a website to calculate the financial damages the extreme right is causing. We are going to educate people about the threats and about the alternatives that exist. Our research will be conducted to retrace the origin, elements and prevalence of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and their role in the ideological mobilization of the radical right. Research and experiments will reveal the prevalence and dynamics of conspiracy theories and will potential methods of combating conspiracy-based beliefs.
The project aims to tackle, discredit and ridicule these patterns of prejudiced thoughts by using several channels of public communication, especially those which are crucial for the radicals as well.
Interview With Zoltán Kész
The following edited interview with Mr. Kész, conducted by email, provides more information.
Your article links the work the foundation has done in calculating the economic effect of the sanctions related to the anti-Semitic behavior of Hungarian football (soccer) fans in August. What other work related to fighting bigotry has the foundation conducted in the past?
The assessment of damage related to the soccer game was just the beginning. We have also tried to draw the attention of the members of the European People’s Party (EPP) to the endorsements of anti-Semitism by the ruling Fidesz party. We have written a letter to heads of the EPP and asked them how they can tolerate such openly racist acts. Also, we are trying to make people aware of the fact that this government is awarding people who are openly racist. Throughout this whole year, the foundation will continue its “Ridicule the radical” campaign.
The foundation is planning research, education, and communication. What are the goals?
It is difficult to promote free market ideas in a country where in the past sixty years people have been socialized with the importance of a big and powerful state. The foundation is trying to explain to people, through its publications and lectures, that in order to have a well functioning country, we should limit the role of the government, put an end to centralization, and raise civil awareness.
Another crucial factor is the nostalgia that people have towards the past. Hungarians should reevaluate the history of the country of the past 100 years. We have to know that our nation was not only a victim of the horrors of the twentieth century, but also a participant.
As for tolerance, we have a long way to go. As history has shown, in times of crisis, the extreme right always finds others to blame for the unsuccessful policies. It is usually the Jews, and as we look at the surveys, Hungarians are unfortunately very easily fooled by the demagoguery of fascism. It is vital that the young generation should learn about an alternative. Through our educational project, we are trying to reach as many students as possible. We are also setting up a Hungarian chapter of Students for Liberty, which will help reach university students with its programs.
Is there cause for optimism?
There is always a reason for hope; however, I think that we are pressed by time. The new changes to the Constitution, and the partial disappearance of the checks and balances show that another four years of Fidesz rule would do even more damage to the country. I am optimistic that next year’s election will bring together a large coalition against the ruling party. By large coalition, I mean that people from across the aisles should cooperate to make the country better.
Opportunity to Help
Donations may be made to help the Hungarian Free Market’s work countering neo-fascism through Atlas. If donating online, please write “Hungarian Free Market Foundation Anti-Fascism Campaign” in the box under “Please designate my gift to specific Atlas program.” If donating by mail, please include a note reflecting this designation. Atlas’s address, and additional donation information, are here.
Please email Mr. Kész to advise of your donation or seek additional information: kesz.zoltan@szabadpiacalapitvany.hu.
I invite you to join me in helping create a better future for Hungary.
