Countering National-Level Populism with Local Politics? Broadening Participatory Processes in Budapest in Illiberal Hungary

Abstract

This paper explores how political opposition at the local level responds to national populism, focusing on Budapest’s reactions to Viktor Orbán’s government. It addresses the under-researched national–local nexus in populism studies by examining counter-populist strategies rooted in democratic values such as pluralism, inclusion, and solidarity. Through semi-structured interviews and analysis of documents and media, the paper maps how the lord mayor, district mayors, and their teams confront anti-democratic dynamics. By shifting the focus from local populist actors to local opposition, the study highlights the normative foundations of urban resistance to national-level populism.