The Hungarian Radical Right and Its Transformation: from MIEP to Mi Hazánk

This article examines the evolution of Hungary’s radical right through three key parties: The Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIEP), Jobbik and the Our Homeland Movement (Mi Hazánk). Founded in the early-1990s, MIEP’s extreme nationalist and anti-establishment rhetoric declined as it failed to adapt to the new system, creating space for Jobbik’s rise in the 2000s, with its aggressive nationalist appeal targeting young, disaffected voters. In the mid-2010s, Jobbik’s strategic shift toward moderation alienated its core supporters, leading to the formation of Mi Hazánk in 2018 by former members seeking to reclaim hardline nationalism and social conservatism. Through a comparative analysis of these parties’ ideological trajectories, the article highlights the adaptability and persistent appeal of radical right ideologies in Hungary. Findings suggest that internal party dynamics and shifting voter alignments are central to the resilience of radical right movements in post-communist Europe, shaping Hungary’s political landscape.