Ideology, evolution and electoral performance of extreme right parties in Central and Eastern Europe: focusing on Jobbik (Hungary) and L'SNS (Slovakia)

Abstract

During the last decade, far-right (extreme and radical) parties have experienced significant success in Central and Eastern Europe. Transition problems and genuine prejudices gave far right parties the opportunity to rise. But which parties? Explaining the difference between radicalism and extremism, it is possible to define the concept of the extreme right party family in CEE. Drawing upon historical legacies and contemporary factors this thesis tries to interpret the recent rise of extreme right parties. Moreover this thesis identifies the key ideological features of this party family and focuses on the cases of Jobbik in Hungary and L‟SLS in Slovakia. Jobbik is the most successful extreme right party having reached 20% of the votes in 2014, while L‟SNS shocked Slovakia in 2016 entering the parliament for the first time. Providing information about their history, ideology, evolution, leadership, their electoral performance and intra-party relations, this thesis constructs the party profile. Particular idiosyncrasies in Hungary and Slovakia are taking into account in order to explain support for extreme right parties and demand for right-wing extremism.