Bálint Mikola
Biographic Data
| ID | 3093438 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bálint Mikola |
| GIVEN NAMES | Bálint |
| FAMILY NAME | Mikola |
| SIGNATURE | MIKOLA B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Central European University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6874-5269 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 16 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 9 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
How movement parties contest democratic backsliding
Democratic backsliding is on the rise globally, prompting renewed attention to the strategies through which democracies resist authoritarian encroachments. One form of resistance involves the transition of protest movements into the electoral arena, in the form of so-called “movement parties.” While widely studied in Western Europe, this new party form has received little attention in Eastern European countries where governing elites are fundamen…
Carpet bombing vs. targeting
Hybrid media systems challenge the agenda-setting role of legacy media and political elites, and open new avenues for political parties and governments to push their narratives. Social media influencers have gained special prominence in accessing young audiences, which led to their incorporation into electoral campaigns. This paper explores how the Hungarian governing party, Fidesz, relied on social media influencers in its 2022 re-election bid, …
Cultural policies of populist governments in central and Eastern Europe
The recent rise of populist and illiberal actors in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the concomitant democratic backsliding has generated notable scholarly interest; however, the implications of populism for cultural policy remain understudied. Since culture defines popular tastes and shapes interpretations of national identity and history, we adopt a comparative perspective to evaluate what impact these actors had on cultural policies betwee…
Illiberal Politics in Europe
Our thematic issue focuses on the ideological and discursive foundations, policy outputs, and institutional impact of illiberal parties in Europe. The contributions highlight how illiberal actors reshape democratic institutions, popular attitudes, cultural narratives, and welfare policies. They also consider how illiberal ideas spread through mainstream political discourse. Crucially, the issue explores both the diversity of illiberal ideologies …
When Illiberals Govern
Illiberal governments have been widely associated with democratic backsliding, the erosion of the rule of law, and executive aggrandisement. However, their impact on the various domains of knowledge production has not received enough scholarly attention. Through what policies do illiberal actors ensure the reproduction of their narratives? Do illiberal political leaders see education and culture as ideological vehicles, or do they consider them a…
Russia and Central European illiberal actors
Over the past 15 years, the relationship between illiberal European actors and Russia has become increasingly intertwined. Russia has cultivated these relationships, viewing illiberal actors as a means of influencing Europe. Despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which could have been considered a critical juncture, some European parties and politicians did not sever their connections with Russia. This paper addresses this c…
Opposition electoral strategies against democratic backsliding
How do opposition actors react to democratic backsliding? Using interviews with party elites and nationally representative survey data, this article explores the motivations behind the formation of the six-party “United for Hungary” coalition and the selection of candidates through primaries open to the whole Hungarian electorate, in the run-up of the 2022 general elections. We find that democratic erosion is at the core of opposition parties’ de…
Legislative Capture in Hungary
We discuss the case of Hungary's rapid democratic backsliding under Viktor Orbán as an example of legislative capture. We show that, despite relatively unfavorable conditions for autocratization, Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party have supervised a well-crafted project of institutional transformation and a comprehensive regrouping of financial resources, all of which have led to an effective and stable concentration of power. This power concentrat…
A programme written by citizens? Agenda-setters and veto players in drafting the 2018 election manifesto of the Five-star Movement
Opposition electoral strategies against democratic backsliding
How do opposition actors react to democratic backsliding? Using interviews with party elites and nationally representative survey data, this article explores the motivations behind the formation of the six-party “United for Hungary” coalition and the selection of candidates through primaries open to the whole Hungarian electorate, in the run-up of the 2022 general elections. We find that democratic erosion is at the core of opposition parties’ de…
Russia and Central European illiberal actors
Over the past 15 years, the relationship between illiberal European actors and Russia has become increasingly intertwined. Russia has cultivated these relationships, viewing illiberal actors as a means of influencing Europe. Despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which could have been considered a critical juncture, some European parties and politicians did not sever their connections with Russia. This paper addresses this c…
Legislative Capture in Hungary
We discuss the case of Hungary's rapid democratic backsliding under Viktor Orbán as an example of legislative capture. We show that, despite relatively unfavorable conditions for autocratization, Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party have supervised a well-crafted project of institutional transformation and a comprehensive regrouping of financial resources, all of which have led to an effective and stable concentration of power. This power concentrat…
When Illiberals Govern
Illiberal governments have been widely associated with democratic backsliding, the erosion of the rule of law, and executive aggrandisement. However, their impact on the various domains of knowledge production has not received enough scholarly attention. Through what policies do illiberal actors ensure the reproduction of their narratives? Do illiberal political leaders see education and culture as ideological vehicles, or do they consider them a…
Illiberal Politics in Europe
Our thematic issue focuses on the ideological and discursive foundations, policy outputs, and institutional impact of illiberal parties in Europe. The contributions highlight how illiberal actors reshape democratic institutions, popular attitudes, cultural narratives, and welfare policies. They also consider how illiberal ideas spread through mainstream political discourse. Crucially, the issue explores both the diversity of illiberal ideologies …
A programme written by citizens? Agenda-setters and veto players in drafting the 2018 election manifesto of the Five-star Movement
Legislative Capture in Hungary
We discuss the case of Hungary's rapid democratic backsliding under Viktor Orbán as an example of legislative capture. We show that, despite relatively unfavorable conditions for autocratization, Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party have supervised a well-crafted project of institutional transformation and a comprehensive regrouping of financial resources, all of which have led to an effective and stable concentration of power. This power concentrat…
Cultural policies of populist governments in central and Eastern Europe
The recent rise of populist and illiberal actors in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the concomitant democratic backsliding has generated notable scholarly interest; however, the implications of populism for cultural policy remain understudied. Since culture defines popular tastes and shapes interpretations of national identity and history, we adopt a comparative perspective to evaluate what impact these actors had on cultural policies betwee…
Illiberal Politics in Europe
Our thematic issue focuses on the ideological and discursive foundations, policy outputs, and institutional impact of illiberal parties in Europe. The contributions highlight how illiberal actors reshape democratic institutions, popular attitudes, cultural narratives, and welfare policies. They also consider how illiberal ideas spread through mainstream political discourse. Crucially, the issue explores both the diversity of illiberal ideologies …
When Illiberals Govern
Illiberal governments have been widely associated with democratic backsliding, the erosion of the rule of law, and executive aggrandisement. However, their impact on the various domains of knowledge production has not received enough scholarly attention. Through what policies do illiberal actors ensure the reproduction of their narratives? Do illiberal political leaders see education and culture as ideological vehicles, or do they consider them a…
Russia and Central European illiberal actors
Over the past 15 years, the relationship between illiberal European actors and Russia has become increasingly intertwined. Russia has cultivated these relationships, viewing illiberal actors as a means of influencing Europe. Despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which could have been considered a critical juncture, some European parties and politicians did not sever their connections with Russia. This paper addresses this c…
Opposition electoral strategies against democratic backsliding
How do opposition actors react to democratic backsliding? Using interviews with party elites and nationally representative survey data, this article explores the motivations behind the formation of the six-party “United for Hungary” coalition and the selection of candidates through primaries open to the whole Hungarian electorate, in the run-up of the 2022 general elections. We find that democratic erosion is at the core of opposition parties’ de…
How movement parties contest democratic backsliding
Democratic backsliding is on the rise globally, prompting renewed attention to the strategies through which democracies resist authoritarian encroachments. One form of resistance involves the transition of protest movements into the electoral arena, in the form of so-called “movement parties.” While widely studied in Western Europe, this new party form has received little attention in Eastern European countries where governing elites are fundamen…
Carpet bombing vs. targeting
Hybrid media systems challenge the agenda-setting role of legacy media and political elites, and open new avenues for political parties and governments to push their narratives. Social media influencers have gained special prominence in accessing young audiences, which led to their incorporation into electoral campaigns. This paper explores how the Hungarian governing party, Fidesz, relied on social media influencers in its 2022 re-election bid, …
Political science (7 works) · Politics (6 works) · Electoral Systems and Political Participation (5 works) · Law (5 works) · Economics (4 works) · Law (4 works) · Political economy (4 works) · Populism, Right-Wing Movements (4 works) · European Union Policy and Governance (3 works) · Social Media and Politics (3 works)