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

Áron Hidvégi

Vice-Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Béla Bauer PhD

Senior Analyst

Bianka Speidl Dr.

Senior Analyst

Dávid Kollár

Senior Analyst

Dóra Menich

Analyst

Eszter Bogáromi Dr.

Associate Director of …

Gábor Fűrész

Chairman of the Board

Gábor Megadja

Director of Research Unit

Kinga Kenyeres

Chief Executive Officer

László Kökény Dr.

Senior Advisor

Lili Zenovitz

Senior Analyst

Miklós Gyorgyovich

Associate Director

Mónika Makay

Team Leader of Research Unit

Nikoletta Péntekné Simon Dr.

Analyst

Olivér Hortay Dr.

Director, Director of Research Unit

Orsolya Horváth Dr.

Director

Péter Pillók Dr.

Director of Research Unit

Tamás Görgényi

Member of the Board

Tamás Isépy

Director

Tamás László

Senior Analyst

Zoltán Kiszelly

Director

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 November 2023 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, the sense of prosperity among households did not change, while the sense of prosperity among businesses improved significantly. The household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, dropped from -18.8 to -18.9, while the business index improved from -15.5 to -12.6. Over a longer horizon, the indices show a significant improvement: compared to November 2022, the household index increased by 7.5 index points and the corporate index by 8.1 index points. The prosperity index remained in negative territory, still determined by the Russia-Ukraine war, a declining but still higher inflation environment and the uncertainty caused by economic sanctions. A major improvement in the sense of prosperity will only be possible if the war ends, inflation continues to fall, the interest rate environment becomes more favourable and energy markets see sustained low prices.
On 7 October, Hamas militants carried out a terrorist attack against Israel that claimed more than 1,400 lives, most of them civilians. In response to the action of the Palestinian terrorist organisation, Israel has launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas infrastructure. At the same time, mass demonstrations, not without antisemitic manifestations, in support of Palestine or Hamas took place in many major cities in Western Europe. In light of these developments, Századvég has mapped public attitudes towards the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Századvég’s Sovereignty Conference attracted great interest, with its focus on the efforts of Hungarian conservatives to preserve Hungary’s sovereignty and the presentation of the latest results of the Project Europe research. The event also commemorated the 30th anniversary of Századvég. The event featured high-profile politicians, public figures and Századvég colleagues who shared their thoughts and plans with the participants.
Brussels is asking Member States for EUR 50 billion in additional funding for Ukraine. The proposal would not only impose a significant financial burden on the entire population of the EU but would also allow the armed conflict to drag on. However, EU citizens believe that the parties should instead be urged to negotiate peace and the war should end immediately.
The October 2023 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató shows that both households’ and businesses’ sense of prosperity has improved. The household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, improved from -23.0 to -18.8, while the business index improved from -17.5 to -15.5. The prosperity index remained in negative territory, still determined by the Russia-Ukraine war, the still higher inflation environment and the uncertainty caused by economic sanctions. A major improvement in the sense of prosperity will only be possible if the war ends, inflation continues to fall, the interest rate environment becomes more favourable and energy markets see sustained low prices.
As a result of the price rises caused by the energy crisis, the proportion of energy-poor households across Europe has increased significantly, with 22% of the EU population facing difficulties in heating. Hungarian families are the least affected by this problem thanks to the overhead cost reduction policy.

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