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 Czopf

Research Fellow

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

Dr. Gábor Megadja

Director of Research Unit

Dr. Zoltán Béky

Regulatory (codification) lawyer

Eszter Bogáromi Dr.

Associate Director of …

Gábor Fűrész

Chairman of the Board

Kinga Kenyeres

Chief Executive Officer

László Kökény Dr.

Senior Advisor

Lili Zenovitz

Senior Analyst

Márton Falusi

Researcher

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

Results from Századvég’s Project Europe survey show that almost two thirds of EU citizens are concerned that, more than a year and a half on, there is still no meaningful result from investigations into the historic scale of attacks on the EU’s critical infrastructure.
According to the April 2024 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, household economic sentiment deteriorated by 1.6 index points, while business economic expectations improved by 0.7 index points from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, weakened to -16.4, while the business index strengthened to -12.2. A marked positive change in the April survey is that households’ inflation perceptions are steadily converging towards the actual rate, which is now within the central bank’s inflation target range. For businesses, the biggest positive change from March to April was in profits over the past year.
There is a global consensus on the vital role of water in the proper functioning of ecological, social and economic systems, and it is therefore a priority to ensure the widest possible uptake of modern digital technologies across the water utilities sector, from water resource protection to water services. A research conducted by the Digital Business Unit of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató at the end of 2023 revealed that the essential prerequisite for the penetration of these solutions is the mainstreaming of digitisation aspects in resource allocation, investment and development decisions, as well as in the economical and conscious industrial and residential user practices.
The latest Europe Project survey by Századvég revealed that a majority of European citizens do not agree with a ban on motor vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035.
In 2023, the volume of Hungarian gross domestic product (GDP) fell slightly by 0.7%, while growth is likely to remain subdued in the following years. We expect Hungarian economic output to grow by 2.7% in 2024 and 3.4% in 2025. This year and next will be marked by a slow recovery process.
According to the March 2024 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, household economic sentiment deteriorated by 1.9 index points, while business economic expectations decreased by 1.1 index points from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, weakened to -14.8, while the business index to -12.9. The March survey shows a marked positive change in that households are less worried about job losses in the next six months than a month earlier. In the business sector, the largest negative change from February to March was in expectations for future exchange rate movements.

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