Tuned to fear

Analyzing Viktor Orbán’s state of the nation addresses, focusing on the enemy images identified in the National Consultation

Authors

  • Aron Szalay Research Center for Computational Social Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary and Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Central European University, Vienna, Austria https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5540-977X
  • Zsófia Rakovics Research Center for Computational Social Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary and Doctoral School of Sociology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9903-9348

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17356/ieejsp.v11i1.1226
Abstract Views: 0 PDF Downloads: 0

Keywords:

Viktor Orbán, political communication, state of nation address, automated text analysis, fear, enemy image

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalent use of fear as a political tool by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Through critical discourse analysis and automated text analytics, we analyze the State of the Nation addresses from 2010 to 2022, identifying recurring enemy images such as ‘Brussels’, ‘migrants’, ‘George Soros’, ‘Ferenc Gyurcsány’ and ‘opposition.’ National Consultations are also examined to understand fear-inducing strategies. Our findings reveal a consistent pattern of fearmongering, with enemy images aligning with key events and political contexts.

By employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research deepens our understanding of fear’s role in shaping public perceptions and political dynamics. It sheds light on the strategic use of fear in Hungarian politics and its impact on democratic processes. Furthermore, the study highlights the implications for the construction of illiberal systems in Central and Eastern Europe.

The analysis of Orbán’s discourse provides valuable insights into the manipulation of public sentiment and the consolidation of power through fear tactics. This study contributes to the broader discourse on the intersections of fear and politics, providing insight into fearmongering through official speeches.

Downloads

Published

2025-09-18

How to Cite

[1]
Szalay, A. and Rakovics, Z. 2025. Tuned to fear: Analyzing Viktor Orbán’s state of the nation addresses, focusing on the enemy images identified in the National Consultation. Intersections. East European Journal of Society and Politics. 11, 1 (Sep. 2025), 165–184. DOI:https://doi.org/10.17356/ieejsp.v11i1.1226.

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025): Eastern and Central European political discourses from the perspective of computational social science - Part 2

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright Notice

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work three months after publication simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. This acknowledgement is not automatic, it should be asked from the editors and can usually be obtained one year after its first publication in the journal.