Stable or not? Patterns of party system dynamics and the rise of the new political parties in the Czech Republic

Stable or not? Patterns of party system dynamics and the rise of the new political parties in the Czech Republic

Author(s): Vlastimil Havlík / Language(s): / Issue: 01/2015

Keywords: political parties; party system; the Czech Republic; stability; dynamics; volatility;

The text analyses the stability and dynamics of the party system in the Czech Republic after 1989. After summarizing the theoretical discussion about the stability of the party politics, the author applies selected tools for measuring the party system stability within the Czech party system environment. Besides the stability of individual political parties, the author also deals with systemic approaches by emphasising the importance of the inter-party relations and concludes that the Czech party system could be considered as a relatively stable one when taking into account the performance of individual parties, at least to the 2010 election, but relatively unstable when assessing the systemic relations. Moreover, the author assesses the changes of the party system after the 2010 and 2013 general elections and identifies the political crisis as the main reason for the rise of the new anti-establishment political parties.

Mainstreaming the Extreme

Mainstreaming the Extreme

Author(s): Margit Feischmidt,Peter Hervik / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Drifting from Liberal Democracy

Drifting from Liberal Democracy

Author(s): Iván Szelényi,Tamás Csillag / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: post-communist capitalism; managed and illiberal democracy; transition from communism to capitalism; neo-patrimonial and neo-prebendal forms of ownership; traditionalism/neo-conservatism

Most European post-communist societies after 1989-1991 appeared to be on the road to liberal democratic capitalism. However, a quarter of century after the change of the system, at least some of the countries – Russia and Hungary in particular (arguably setting a trend for many other nations) – began to drift sharply away from liberal democracy. We treat liberalism and democracy as two distinct dimensions of “good governance”. We interpret liberalism as separation of powers and security of private property rights. We interpret democracy as majoritarian rule. As the regimes shift to illiberalism, secure private property tends to be converted into “fief” (neo-patrimonialism – like during the rule of Yeltsin), or eventually into “benefice” (neo-prebendalism, this turn happened with the rise of Putin to power). While the principle of majoritarian rule is retained, it is also “managed”. But as long as democratic institutions operate, as long as leaders are elected to office the ruling elites of illiberal democracies need a legitimating ideology which can appeal to a broader electorate. We call this post-communist traditionalist/neo-conservative ideology. Post-communist traditionalism/neo-conservatism emphasizes the value of patriotism, religion and traditional family values much like some of the socially conservative republicans in the USA do.

What is in the Scandinavian Nexus of “Islamophobia, Multiculturalism, and Muslim-Western Relations”?

What is in the Scandinavian Nexus of “Islamophobia, Multiculturalism, and Muslim-Western Relations”?

Author(s): Peter Hervik / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: cultural incompatibility; Islamophobia; neo-nationalism; exclusionary beliefs; social media blogs; Scandinavia

Studies of European political party programmes, social movements, news media coverage, scores of books, and social media networks have embraced a negative dialogue towards migrants, whose identities are increasingly seen as incompatible with ‘Western’ values and presenting a major challenge to democracy. Sponsors of these public discourses support anti-immigration and oppositional stances to ‘migrant sympathizers’, who are often represented as traitors or cowards. They also fuel a process where xenophobia, Islamophobia and zero-tolerance have become naturalized and morally accepted ways to respond to the non-Western migrants. The objective of this article is to explore how this position embeds a number of other negativities, such as multiculturalists, feminists, and ‘liberals’ (left-wingers). The article approaches this coexistence of negativities as a ‘nexus of exclusionary beliefs’ with its blurred relations and taken for granted assumptions in the Muhammad Cartoon Affair in Denmark, the media coverage of the terrorist attack in Norway 2011; a blog entry about Radical Islam, feminism and left-wingers; and discussion about immigrant youth and drinking on a website connected to one of Denmark’s most popular radio programmes targeting younger listeners.

From Mainstream to Extreme

From Mainstream to Extreme

Author(s): Giorgos Tsimouris / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: Fascism; Greece; Golden Dawn; immigration; borders; xenophobia; racism

Τhe electoral success of the far-right in Greece deals, not only, with the retreat of the state from the provision of public goods such as welfare services and security, but predominantly, with mainstream anti-immigrant discourses and representations, which have been further deteriorated, intensified and expanded during economic crisis. Over the last years, official and media discourses, re-fabricating the popular ‛deep structures’ of nationalism and masculinity, targeted immigrants as responsible for the deterioration of social life, especially in the urban centres. As a result, ‛the immigrant other’ came to the forefront of the political debate as the dangerous and contaminating ‛other’. In this framework, my aim is to approach the popularity and the quick rise of fascism not as an accident, but as ‛a chronicle of death foretold’, strongly interconnected with media representations and official public statements and interventions, framed by casino capitalism and the expansion of mainstream nationalist, as well as racist discourses and accounts. As it emerges from the immigration histories of Europe and the USA, xenophobia and the rise of fascism under the cover of nationalism and patriotism in times of economic recession, is a rather banal phenomenon. What however needs further examination is the close interconnection between official representations disseminated through state-controlled media and fascist action. My main point is that fascists in Greece pushed to the edges mainstream xenophobic representations, further popularized in the era of crisis.

Incubating Radicalism in Hungary – the Case of Sopron and Ózd

Incubating Radicalism in Hungary – the Case of Sopron and Ózd

Author(s): Domonkos Sik / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: political culture; modernization; radicalism; Hungary

The paper analyses young people’s interpretation of the past, evaluation of the present and political behaviour patterns based on semi-structured interviews (n=60) conducted in two contrasting constellations of modernization, Sopron and Ózd. First the perception of the most pressing social and political problems, second the potential of political and civic actions are compared. Finally an attempt is made to outline a “hopeless” and an “indifferent” idealtype of political culture. Together they create the opportunity for both the birth of antidemocratic tendencies and the space in which they can evolve. In this sense they provide the preconditions for “mainstreaming the extreme” that is the incubation of radicalism in Hungary.

A Right-wing Extremist or People’s Protector?

A Right-wing Extremist or People’s Protector?

Author(s): Alena Kluknavská / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: extreme right; media; discourse; frame analysis; xenophobia

The paper focuses on the coverage of the extreme right leader Marian Kotleba in the media during the 2013 regional elections in Slovakia. It examines how the media shaped the discourse regarding Kotleba in a six-week period, covering the time before and after the elections. Applying the frame analysis, it identifies ten issue-specific frames that problematize Kotleba in relation to either his general political actions or the regional elections and analyses 359 articles, leading to 1095 claims made by various sources. The findings show that the extreme right politician was mainly framed in terms of extremist threat and the failure of authorities. However, although the prevalent framing in the media may be perceived as negative, the media attention for the leader radically increased after the elections’ first round, making Kotleba highly salient in the public debate, while the counter-frames appealing to legitimate side of politician’s candidacy can be observed. The paper contributes to the literature on the media representation of the extreme right in Central and Eastern Europe.

Old Missions in New Clothes

Old Missions in New Clothes

Author(s): Anikó Félix / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: Far right; gender; Greece; Hungary; movement; party

Although numerous studies on the far right have been conducted, some aspects of the topic are still underresearched. One of these aspects is the gender dimension of far right movements. This paper reveals this poorly researched topic, while seeking women’s participation and activism in the far right movements, focusing on women’s roles in political parties, movements, and the surrounding subculture. The study presents the results of a comparative research of two parties regarding women’s presence: Jobbik in Hungary and the Golden Dawn in Greece. I describe the gender gap in the far right, and the forms of women’s participation. I argue that although women support the far right in smaller numbers than men, they nonetheless have a significant input in the growing public support that these parties enjoy. This suggests a new picture of mainstream parties for these far right parties that are no longer excessively masculine.

Securitization of LGBTIQ Minorities in Serbian Far-right Discourses

Securitization of LGBTIQ Minorities in Serbian Far-right Discourses

Author(s): Isidora Stakić / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Keywords: LGBTIQ; Serbia; securitization; far-right; extremism; discourse

This article analyses the securitization of LGBTIQ population in the narratives of Serbian far-right organizations, i.e. the discursive construction of the LGBTIQ minorities as a threat. The analysis relies on securitization theory in order to demonstrate how the issue of gay rights is taken beyond ‘normal politics’ and constructed as a security issue. By drawing upon post-structuralist reading of securitization theory, this article argues that the narratives of Serbian far-right groups acquire legitimacy due to their coherence with the mainstream discourses on homosexuality and LGBTIQ rights. Moreover, it argues that through the securitization of sexual minorities in the far-right discourses, the Serbian national identity is being re-defined and strengthened. This article uses discourse analysis as main method. The sources of data include press statements and other media pieces, reports by civil society organizations and government institutions, public opinion surveys and websites of the far-right groups. The analysis is focused on the period from the adoption of the Anti-discrimination Law in 2009 onwards, as the period in which the issue of LGBTIQ rights has become increasingly topical in the Serbian public sphere.

The Gypsy ‘Menace’. Populism and the New Anti-Gypsy Politics by Michael Stewart, ed., Columbia University Press 2012. 382 pages.

The Gypsy ‘Menace’. Populism and the New Anti-Gypsy Politics by Michael Stewart, ed., Columbia University Press 2012. 382 pages.

Author(s): Juraj Buzalka / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Youth and the Extreme Right by Cas Mudde, ed., Idebate Press 2014. 249 pages.

Youth and the Extreme Right by Cas Mudde, ed., Idebate Press 2014. 249 pages.

Author(s): Anikó Félix / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

Stakeholder Citizenship and Transnational Political Participation: A Normative Evaluation of External Voting

Érdekeltség-alapú állampolgárság és transznacionális politikai részvétel: a külső szavazás normatív értékelése

Author(s): Rainer Bauböck / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

Nationality as a stigma: The drawbacks of nationality

Az állampolgárság mint stigma: az állampolgárság hátrányai

Author(s): Boldizsár Nagy / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

Slovak debate about a Hungarian law

Magyar törvény, szlovák diskurzus

Author(s): Ágnes Vass / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

Minority identity constructions formed by Hungarian dual citizenship

Kisebbségi identitáskonstrukciók a kettős magyar állampolgárság által

Author(s): Z. Attila Papp / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

The difficult heritage of shared history

A közös történelem nehéz öröksége

Author(s): László Szarka / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

The literature of remembrance: construction of a trauma community or utilization of minority competences?

Az emlékezetirodalom: traumaközösség konstruálása vagy a kisebbségi kompetenciák kihasználása?

Author(s): Nándor Bárdi / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

Gaucsík István: Lemorzsolódó kisebbség. A csehszlovákiai magyarság jogfosztásának gazdasági háttere 1945–1948. Pozsony, Kalligram, 2013, 406 oldal

Body, identity, gender - analysing of history of prostitution

Test, identitás, nemiség - a két világháború közti prostitúció elemzése

Author(s): Eszter Zsófia Tóth / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

Bokor Zsuzsa: Testtörténetek. A nemzet és a nemi betegségek medikalizálása a két világháború között Kolozsváron. Kolozsvár, Nemzeti Kisebbségkutató Intézet, 2013.

The internet's role in researching identity: a methodological tool or a public sphere to be examined?

Az internet szerepe az identitás-vizsgálatokban: módszertani eszköz vagy kutatandó nyilvános tér?

Author(s): Borbála Szakács / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014

Olga Alekseeva, Hans-Georg Heinrich: Ethnic Minorities of Central and Eastern Europe in the Internet Space: Content Analysis (ENRI-WEB). Peter Lang, Vienna, 2013, 130 p.

Szeklerland in the 20th century

Székelyföld a 20. században

Author(s): Anikó Borbála Izsák / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 1/2014