Political Analysis

„Our purpose is to understand the deeper structures of the political arrangement and Hungarian society.”

The main objective of the Political Analysis Research Unit of the Századvég Foundation is to rigorously and systematically study political phenomena in Hungary using empirical methods in order to gain reliable knowledge about the political behaviour of Hungarian voters and our political institutions. The main focus of the research unit is not on topical political issues, but on fundamental political and sociological research.

About us

We aim to conduct methodological studies that could improve the accuracy of measurements in political science.

Our tools include questionnaire surveys, experiments, qualitative methods (e.g. focus group studies), case studies, digital data and AI-based methods. Our data-driven analyses can support policymakers and lead to better understanding and awareness of political trends among the general public.

Ádám Stefkovics has been with the Századvég Foundation since 2012, previously he was Head of the Directorate for Public Opinion and Market Research. He holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Faculty of Social Sciences of Eötvös Loránd University, where he is currently a PhD candidate. He is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Science Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and a visiting research fellow at the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University. His main research interests are political sociology and survey methodology.

Kutatóink

portré 24 czopf áron

Áron Czopf

Research Fellow

portré 24 hidvégi áron

Áron Hidvégi

Vice-Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer

bauer béla

Béla Bauer PhD

Senior Analyst

speidl bianka

Bianka Speidl Dr.

Senior Analyst

portré 24 kollár dávid

Dávid Kollár

Senior Analyst

menich dóra

Dóra Menich

Analyst

portré 24 dr. megadja gábor

Dr. Gábor Megadja

Director of Research Unit

Dr. Zoltán Béky

Regulatory (codification) lawyer

portré 24 dr. bogáromi eszter

Eszter Bogáromi Dr.

Associate Director of …

fűrész gábor

Gábor Fűrész

Chairman of the Board

portré 24 kenyeres kinga

Kinga Kenyeres

Chief Executive Officer

portré 24 dr. kökény lászló

László Kökény Dr.

Senior Advisor

portré 24 zenovitz lili

Lili Zenovitz

Senior Analyst

Márton Falusi

Researcher

portré 24 gyorgyovich miklós

Miklós Gyorgyovich

Associate Director

portré 24 csete makay mónika

Mónika Makay

Team Leader of Research Unit

dr. péntekné simon nikolett

Nikoletta Péntekné Simon Dr.

Analyst

portré 24 dr. hortay olivér

Olivér Hortay Dr.

Director, Director of Research Unit

portré 24 dr. horváth orsolya

Orsolya Horváth Dr.

Director

portré 24 dr. pillók péter

Péter Pillók Dr.

Director of Research Unit

götgényi tamás

Tamás Görgényi

Member of the Board

portré 24 isépy tamás

Tamás Isépy

Director

portré 24 lászló tamás

Tamás László

Senior Analyst

kiszelly zoltán

Zoltán Kiszelly

Director

portré 24 dr. ifj. lomnici zoltán

Zoltán Lomnici Jr Dr.

Lead Expert

Our research activities focus on the following areas

Political behaviour

Political behaviour research is a field that seeks to understand how individuals and groups behave in a political context. This may include the study of voting behaviour, political attitudes, political participation and decision-making processes. Examples of political behaviour research could include the study of how demographic factors such as age or education influence voting patterns.

Political structures and political fragmentation

Research on political structures and fragmentation explores how social and political divisions shape the organisation and functioning of political arrangements. This could include studying the impact of factors such as gender, education or religion on political institutions and processes. Examples of research on political structures and fragmentation include analysing the relationship between income inequality and voter turnout, or how the representation of certain social groups in government affects political outcomes.

Election research

Election research looks at the dynamics and outcomes of elections. This research area could include the study of voters, campaign strategies and the role of the media in shaping election results. Examples of election research include analysing the impact of negative campaigning on voter turnout, or how candidates’ social media use influences public opinion.

Political institutions

Research on political institutions is a field that focuses on the formal and informal structures of government and their functioning. It can cover the study of the design and functioning of legislative bodies, executive agencies and judicial systems, as well as the relationships between these institutions. Examples of research on political institutions include analysing the role of political parties in legislative decision-making, or the influence of interest groups on regulatory agencies.

Globalisation studies

Globalisation studies focus on the growing interconnectedness and interdependence of the world’s political systems and the emergence of global governance structures across national borders. This may include the rise of international organisations and treaties, the growth of transnational social movements, and the growing importance of global norms and values. Examples of political globalisation include the UN’s efforts to coordinate global responses to issues such as human rights, climate change and the role of multinational corporations in shaping national and international policies.

Political communication and media

Political communication and media study the role of different forms of media in shaping political attitudes, behaviour and decision-making. This includes assessing the impact of conventional media, such as newspapers and television, as well as newer forms of digital media, such as social media and online news platforms. Examples of research in political communication and media might include analysing the impact of political advertising on voting patterns, or how political candidates use social media to shape public opinion.

International comparisons

International comparative political science examines political phenomena in different countries and regions of the world to identify similarities, differences and trends. This may include examining the impact of different institutional arrangements, cultural and historical contexts, and economic conditions on policy outcomes. Research in international comparative political science may include, for example, analysing the factors that contribute to the stability or instability of democratic systems in different regions, or how different countries respond to similar policy challenges, such as immigration or climate change.

Legfontosabb tanulmányaink

According to the August 2024 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, household economic sentiment deteriorated by 3.7 index points, while business economic expectations fell by 0.3 index points from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, weakened to -18.3, while the business index to -15.6. The August survey showed that household sentiment changed most as regards the negative changes in Hungary’s economic situation over the next year. In August, the largest month-on-month change for companies was related to more moderate price changes for their products in the past.
According to the July 2024 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, household economic sentiment deteriorated by 2.7 index points, while business economic expectations fell by 3.0 index points from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, weakened to -14.6, while the business index to -15.3. In the July survey, the main change in households’ perceptions was related to the change in unemployment in Hungary over the past year. In July, the biggest negative change for businesses in one month was related to the future outlook for the Hungarian economy.
In French elections, the Muslim votes refer to the votes of French citizens of Maghrebi (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian), Turkish, and West African (primarily from Mali, Senegal, and Guinea) descent. Left-wing politicians, sociologists, and political scientists have long questioned the existence of “Muslim votes,” arguing that French Muslims are full-fledged citizens who have the right to vote freely and individually. In recent years, however, the alliance between Muslim communities and the left, known in France as “Islamo-leftism,” has become increasingly accepted in both academic analyses and French political debates. This has raised questions such as whom Muslims in France vote for, why they vote that way, and the significance of their votes within the French political system. This Századvég analysis aims to provide answers to these questions in relation to the European migrant issue.
At the European Council summit in Brussels at the end of June, the heads of state and government of the member states proposed the extension of the mandate of Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission, and the European Parliament is expected to confirm the German politician’s nomination at its inaugural session in the week of July 15. Given these developments, Századvég evaluated and analyzed the activities of Ursula von der Leyen, covering the period from the Commission’s assumption of office on December 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023.

Szakmai megjelenéseink

No data was found

Add Your Heading Text Here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Frissítettük feltételeinket