Mainstream political discourse on the Roma minority in Hungary between 2010 and 2019

Abstract

This study examines how Hungarian politicians represented the Roma minority in public statements reported by the National News Agency from 2010 to 2019. Through an integrated theoretical framework, we analyzed communication styles to uncover not only what was said about the Roma but also the underlying motivations, proposed societal relationships, and social orders conveyed by these statements. Our methodology combined textual and thematic analyses to explore both the explicit content and the covert implications of these communications.

Our findings reveal a dual discourse from the governing party, Fidesz, which simultaneously emphasizes integration and inclusion to meet European expectations while exploiting anti-Roma sentiment and perceived victimhood, particularly during the refugee crisis, to appeal to domestic audiences. Fidesz employed a complex propaganda strategy, portraying the Roma as both subjects of integration and as scapegoats in the context of refugee-related threats. In contrast, far-right parties like Jobbik engaged in overtly racist propaganda, reinforcing negative stereotypes and solidifying in-group identity among their supporters. Liberal-left-centrist parties, meanwhile, were largely ineffective, often replicating Fidesz's portrayal of the Roma as helpless victims without providing substantive alternative narratives.

This analysis highlights the relational and deeply political nature of discourse, demonstrating how representations of the Roma are manipulated to serve broader political agendas. It also underscores the lack of critical engagement with structural inequalities, revealing how these narratives perpetuate existing power dynamics rather than addressing the systemic issues affecting the Roma community.