Populist-patriotism in Hungary: ‘a conservative island in this liberal European ocean’

The growth of illiberal and authoritarian political parties and governments has given the notion of patriotism fresh political impetus. This article explores how Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, used patriotic discourse during Hungary’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2024. It draws from an analysis of Orbán’s speeches and interviews from this period that shows patriotism was used as a powerful signifier of illiberal ambition. We ask whether the Presidency was utilised by Orbán to further his stated aim of ‘conquering’ the EU on behalf of a European political right. The example of Hungary, though historically, culturally and geographically specific, provides insights into permutations of patriotism and its use in political discourse. The analysis contributes to understanding the intersection of nationalism and populist-patriotism in illiberal and authoritarian states.