Contemporary Hungarian nationalism: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine
(2025) EUHR18 20251European Studies
- Abstract
- This essay examines the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine, how it constructs Hungary's national identity and its implication for Hungary's foreign policy. The analysis is based on a Critical Discourse Analysis, which serves to critically analyse Orbán's statements in interviews, speeches and social media, among others.
By analyzing Orbán's rhetoric on the war in Ukraine, I examine how Hungary communicates
its stance on the conflict. The essay investigates contemporary Hungarian nationalism, and examines how the Prime Minister uses nationalism and national identity in relation to the war. Nationalist theory is applied to the analysis, where the empirical material is analysed through different... (More) - This essay examines the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine, how it constructs Hungary's national identity and its implication for Hungary's foreign policy. The analysis is based on a Critical Discourse Analysis, which serves to critically analyse Orbán's statements in interviews, speeches and social media, among others.
By analyzing Orbán's rhetoric on the war in Ukraine, I examine how Hungary communicates
its stance on the conflict. The essay investigates contemporary Hungarian nationalism, and examines how the Prime Minister uses nationalism and national identity in relation to the war. Nationalist theory is applied to the analysis, where the empirical material is analysed through different perspectives of the theoretical framework of nationalism. National identity,Hungarian minorities and ethno-politics are important concepts for this essay. The analysis reveals that Orbán's rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine consistently emphasizes Hungary's
national interests, sovereignty, and historical resistance to foreign control, positioning Hungary as a defender of peace and values in contrast to the EU's stance. Orbán's strategic use of historical memory, cultural symbols and collective struggles to foster a sense of national unity. Hungary is presented as a sovereign actor resisting foreign influence, while positioned as a defender of national interests and moral values. The conclusions show that Orbán's discourse blends several perspectives of nationalism, leveraging Hungary's historical narrative to legitimize policies of non-intervention in the war in Ukraine. Through nationalist narratives, historical references and strategic use of international and national platforms, Orbán constructs Hungary as a principled outlier within Europe, advocating for national sovereignty over supranational integration. His rhetoric functions not merely as political communication, but as a tool for constructing and reproducing Hungarian national identity in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9200116
- author
- Andersson, Johanna LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- EUHR18 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Hungary-Ukraine relations, Russia-Ukraine war, Discourse Analysis of Foreign policy, Critical Discourse Analysis, Nationalism, European Studies, political communication
- language
- English
- id
- 9200116
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-24 10:51:02
- date last changed
- 2025-06-24 10:51:02
@misc{9200116,
abstract = {{This essay examines the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine, how it constructs Hungary's national identity and its implication for Hungary's foreign policy. The analysis is based on a Critical Discourse Analysis, which serves to critically analyse Orbán's statements in interviews, speeches and social media, among others.
By analyzing Orbán's rhetoric on the war in Ukraine, I examine how Hungary communicates
its stance on the conflict. The essay investigates contemporary Hungarian nationalism, and examines how the Prime Minister uses nationalism and national identity in relation to the war. Nationalist theory is applied to the analysis, where the empirical material is analysed through different perspectives of the theoretical framework of nationalism. National identity,Hungarian minorities and ethno-politics are important concepts for this essay. The analysis reveals that Orbán's rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine consistently emphasizes Hungary's
national interests, sovereignty, and historical resistance to foreign control, positioning Hungary as a defender of peace and values in contrast to the EU's stance. Orbán's strategic use of historical memory, cultural symbols and collective struggles to foster a sense of national unity. Hungary is presented as a sovereign actor resisting foreign influence, while positioned as a defender of national interests and moral values. The conclusions show that Orbán's discourse blends several perspectives of nationalism, leveraging Hungary's historical narrative to legitimize policies of non-intervention in the war in Ukraine. Through nationalist narratives, historical references and strategic use of international and national platforms, Orbán constructs Hungary as a principled outlier within Europe, advocating for national sovereignty over supranational integration. His rhetoric functions not merely as political communication, but as a tool for constructing and reproducing Hungarian national identity in response to Russia's war in Ukraine.}},
author = {{Andersson, Johanna}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Contemporary Hungarian nationalism: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Rhetoric on Russia's war in Ukraine}},
year = {{2025}},
}