ABSTRACT
RELIGION AND NEONATIONALISM. THE CASE OF HUNGARY
István Povedák <povedakistvan@gmail.com>
Institute for Theoretical Studies - Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest
Department of Cultural Heritage and Human Information Sciences - University of Szeged
President - Hungarian Cultural Anthropology Association

Short: 
The aim of my presentation is to give an overall image of the connections between neonationalism and religion in Hungarian popular culture. I will demonstrate how neonationalism, Christianity, esotericism and neopaganism intermingles (ideological dimension); the most important rituals that mirror the connection between the mentioned ideologies (ritual dimension); and its syncretic symbolic manifestations (symbolic dimension). The case of Hungary is interesting not purely because of the current political situation of the country, but as a consequence of the intensive grassroots neonationalist movements that pervaded all segments of religious and non-religious popular culture over the past two and a half decades. 

Long:
Since 2010 when Viktor Orbán became the prime minister, neonationalism has not only pervaded everyday culture but officially reached and has dominated the highest level of politics in Hungary. As it is represented in the media all around (and outside of) Europe, Orbán has been successful in creating a centralized, populist, Christian-Conservative regime where the government has established strong financial, ideological and most importantly personal connections with “historical” Christian churches of Hungary. As a result of this cooperation not only churches received financial support from the government for the sustainment of their institutions (e.g. museums, schools, colleges and universities), the reconstruction of church monuments, or even building their football-arena, but church associates received high political positions as well.
Besides the official, high-political processes, more diverse, ambiguously interpreted grassroots processes also appeared and strengthened in the wider vernacular religious field. The government’s support has not resulted in de-secularization tendencies of “historical” Christian churches and the shrinking and ageing of active religious practitioners has continued along with a well-observable neonationalist vernacular religious awakening in the last cca. 10-15 years. On the one side, it means that the support of the governing neonationalist Fidesz party is especially high among the members of all branches of Christian churches. On the other side, a syncretic, Christian-like, nationalistic, “folkloresque” phenomena emerged which could be observed in many segments of religious and non-religious popular culture. 
The aim of my presentation is to give an overall image of the connections between neonationalism and religion in Hungarian vernacular culture. I will present how neonationalism, Christianity, esotericism and neopaganism intermingles (ideological dimension); the most important rituals that mirrors the connection between the mentioned ideologies (ritual dimension); and its syncretic symbolic manifestations (symbolic dimension).