New publication by Corvinus researchers on Fidesz’s organisational development strategy

The case study analysis the party development characteristics of Fidesz. In the last decade Fidesz has become the most extensive Hungarian party in terms of party members, structuration, resources, and influence. The researchers argue that the party’s organisational development has been determined by a constant strategic adaptation to new circumstances of political reality and new demands of the electorate. The article determines three phases of party development, in which Fidesz adopted different party organisation guidelines. As a result, a hybrid party architecture was formed involving various characteristics and strategies of mass parties (e.g., relatively large membership and ideological communication), movement parties (i.e., top-down generation of mass rallies and protest activities), personal parties (i.e., personalisation, centralisation of party leadership), and cartel parties (i.e., use of state resources, control over party competition). Instead of switching from one strategy to another, the party often used these strategies simultaneously. This flexible party organisation can balance among the different needs of effective governance, constant mobilisation, and popular sovereignty. The article aims to dissect these building blocks of Fidesz to gain insight into the emergence of the hybrid party model.  

 
The article can be read and downloaded free of charge on the website of Politics and Governance: 
www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/4416