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LOVED AND HATED Commonalities and Differences between the Slovak and Hungarian Far Right Editors: Sergej Danilov Tomáš Nociar Published by: Institute for Intercultural Dialogue / Inštitút pre medzikultúrny dialóg Rumančeková 40, 821 01, Bratislava, www.ipmd.sk Edited by (Slovak and English): Sergej Danilov, Tomáš Nociar Translated by: Lucia Faltinová Proofread by: András Zágoni-Bogsch Designed by: Marián Ondrašák Printed by: Polyprint.sk Copyright © 2012 by Institute for Intercultural Dialogue Photos: Internet ISBN 978-80-970915-1-4 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 4 1. What is the far right? (Theoretical perspective) ............................................................ 5 2. The Slovak perspective ..................................................................................................... 7 2.1! Ideological and organizational characteristics of the Slovak far right ................. 7! 2.1.1 Political parties ....................................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Civic associations ................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Non-registered groups .......................................................................................... 11 2.2! Anti-Hungarian rhetoric of the Slovak far right ................................................... 11! 3. The Hungarian perspective ............................................................................................ 15 3.1! Ideological and organizational characteristics of the Hungarian far right ........ 15! 3.1.1 Political parties ..................................................................................................... 15 3.1.2 Civic associations ................................................................................................. 17 3.1.3 Non-registered groups .......................................................................................... 19 3.2! Anti-Slovak rhetoric of the Hungarian far right ................................................... 20! 4. Commonalities between the Slovak and Hungarian far right .................................... 22 4.1! Cooperation and joint activities of the Slovak and Hungarian far right ............ 22! 4.2! The foreign policy orientation of the far right ....................................................... 23! 4.3! Anti-Semitism ........................................................................................................... 25! 4.4! Football hooligans and their ties to the far right ................................................... 27! CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 30 APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................. 32 APPENDIX A: Categorization of the far right subjects (tables) ................................ 32 APPENDIX B: Photographs .......................................................................................... 34 ABOUT THE AUTHORS ..................................................................................................... 36 INTRODUCTION The issue of the far right concerns the entire European continent. In this context, the Slovak Republic and Hungary, two neighboring states in Central Europe, offer an interesting example. It is largely due to the traditionally problematic relations between the two countries. This undoubtedly fuels the far right organizations and enhances their potential for success. The Slovak National Party serves here as an example as one of the most successful among the far right parties in Europe, given its former presence in the parliament and the government. The same applies to Jobbik that is currently one of the strongest far right groups of all. Additional phenomena, namely such organizations as the Hungarian Guard and the Slovak Togetherness deserve a mention, as they became publicly known through their uniforms and marches. By influencing both the national and foreign policy, these organizations are capable of making media headlines but also of further fuelling the already heated relations between the two states. All this is happening after both countries joined the process of European integration that had been seen, inter alia, as a tool for reducing nationally-based tensions. This publication, Loved and Hated - Commonalities and Differences between the Slovak and Hungarian Far Right intends to shed further light on the issue of the far right in both countries. The authors approached the topic through the lens of the complex Slovak–Hungarian relations. Thus, in addition to describing individual agents and defining commonalities and differences between them, the publication, as the title suggests, also intends to highlight two different approaches of these organizations to the issue of mutual relations. The part that maps joint activities offers less-known, yet more interesting contribution to the theme. The chapters focusing on the mutual rhetoric of hate are not only informative, but offer potential help to further understanding of Slovak–Hungarian relations, the troubled periods of which are used (though not exclusively) by the far right groups to generate ethnic tensions and increase their own popularity. These chapters (in form of an appeal) are thus addressed particularly to politicians and state bodies in both countries to whom the parliamentary representation of the far right political parties should serve as a warning. Tomáš Nociar 4 1. What is the far right? (Theoretical perspective) (Tomáš Nociar) The term far right comes from political science that offers two theories on the subject. The first is the theory of ‘party families’ where one of such ‘families’ is the far right ‘party family’. Such parties share ideological foundations defined by nationalism, xenophobia, welfare chauvinism and faith in law and order.1 The second theory, on extremism, understands the far right as a summary notion that contains right-wing radicalism and right-wing extremism. The theory derives from the position which the subject concerned holds towards democracy that also represents the dividing line between right-wing radicalism and extremism. A model of radicalism and extremism Far left Far right Left%wing* Left%wing* Right%wing* Right%wing* Democratic*centre* extremism* radicalism* radicalism* extremism* Spectrum of constitutional conformity Right-wing radicalism is represented by positions and views that are critical of the democratic system and call for its modification, though not for its elimination. In terms of the composition of right-wing radicalism, one can speak of a conglomerate of nationalistic, traditionally conservative, authoritarian and reactionary, yet sometimes also liberal and plebiscite positions.2 Unlike radicalism, right-wing extremism is not only critical of the democratic constitution, but does call for its replacement with an authoritarian form of government. Typical features of right-wing extremism include nationalism, racism, xenophobia, anti-democracy, and 1 MUDDE, C.: Extreme-right Parties in Eastern Europe. In Patterns of prejudice, Institute for Jewish Policy Research, vol. 34, no 1, 2000. See also KOPEČEK, P.: The Far right in Europe. In: Central European Political Studies Review, vol. IX, part 4, pp. 280-293. 2 KUPKA, P., LARYŠ, M., SMOLÍK, J.: Krajní pravice ve vybraných zemích střední a východní Evropy. Brno: Muni Press, 2009. 272 pp. 5 emphasis on a strong state.3 The ideological streams of contemporary right-wing extremism include neo-Fascism and neo-Nazism. Yet not all far right groupings can be defined on the basis of their attitudes to democracy. In some, any criticism of democratic institutions may be altogether absent, yet they are still labeled as far right. This is given by their rhetoric and ideology which, aside from the criticism of democracy, embraces the traditional far right themes. Such groups are then characterized on the basis of their political style and represent ultra right-wing populism. The primary common feature of far right actors is thus a common ideology whose carriers, however, do not necessary have to be political parties. Therefore, the organizational structure is an additional typological sign of the far right groupings. It differentiates individual groupings into: • political parties, • civic associations, • and informal groups (often operating on the basis of leaderless resistance or as a subculture). Ideological characteristics and the organizational structure are thus the two key defining features for further specification of the individual groups within the Slovak and Hungarian far right. 3 MUDDE, C.: The Ideology of the Extreme Right. Manchester University Press, 2000. 224 pp. 6 2. The Slovak perspective 2.1 Ideological! and! organizational! characteristics! of! the! Slovak! far! right!(Dušan'Mikušovič)! Slovak far right subjects can be divided according to their agenda into two key streams: • the ultranationalist stream – characterized by strong ties to the clerico-fascist nature of the wartime Slovak State, specific with its anti-Semitism that draws from local traditions, but especially by strong chauvinism aimed particularly against Hungarians, • the neo-Nazi stream – defined by its identification with the German Third Reich and the politics