Erosion of Democracy: Viktor Orban, Hungarian Voters, and the Desire for Autocracy

Abstract

The rise of illiberal democracies within the European Union presents a profound challenge to the post-Cold War liberal democratic order. This thesis examines the case of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, investigating the erosion of democratic values in an EU member state. It argues that the longevity of Orbán and the Fidesz party is not merely the result of political maneuvering but is deeply rooted in a significant segment of the Hungarian electorate’s desire for autocracy, a desire borne from historical trauma, post-communist disillusionment, and economic anxiety. This paper analyzes the historical and socio-economic factors, including the Treaty of Trianon and the failures of the post-1989 transition to democracy, that created pathway for a leader such as Orbán to gain support for a national shift towards autocracy. Furthermore, it details specific mechanisms of state level mass mobilization employed by Orbán and the Fidesz party to consolidate control of state media, rewrite the constitution, and isolate Hungary from the EU. The thesis concludes that Hungary is a successful model of an electoral autocracy which has consistently gained the support of Hungarian voters and therefore represents a significant challenge to the normative foundation of European integration and the broader liberal democratic order.