Petőcz Kálmán (szerk.): National Populism and Slovak - Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006-2009 (Somorja, 2009)
Grigorij Mesežnikov: National Populism in Slovakia - Defining the Character of the State and Interpreting Select Historic Events
Grigorij Mesežnikov sentiments created a generally favourable social environment for populists and elevated to power the segment of the political elite that is appreciated by voters for its ability to lead confrontational struggles, use militant rhetoric, expose imaginary enemies and defend collective entities national populists like to identify themselves with (i.e. people, state or nation). The nationalist appeal falls quite naturally within this formula. For quite some time, Slovakia’s public discourse in general and political discourse in particular has featured elements that do not encourage the intercultural dialogue. Most importantly, it is deeply rooted vigilance with respect to the country’s largest ethnic minority that is fuelled by the historical legacy as well as by contemporary social actors’ efforts to capitalize on this vigilance on a number of levels (e.g. education, culture, party politics, international relations and foreign policy, etc.). Secondly, it is the lingering perception of the national state that is defined purely ethnically. Thirdly, it is ambivalence in evaluating certain key events of the Slovaks’ national history. Last but not least, it is relatively high voter support for political forces that use the method of confrontation as the principal tool to achieve the set goals, including the type of confrontation that has a potential to mobilize large population groups. Since the national-populist type of appealing to voters and preference of confrontation is deeply rooted in all three parties of the incumbent ruling coalition (particularly in the SNS and SMER-SD), it would be nad've to expect a real improvement in conditions for intercultural civic dialogue in Slovakia as long as these parties remain dominant ruling forces. Their evolution toward more moderate forms of appealing to voters is very unlikely in this situation; on the contrary, they may further step up their aggressive rhetoric under certain circumstances (e.g. lingering problems in Slovak-Hungarian relations, potential social and political turmoil caused by the world economic crisis or declining voter support). Still, only declining voter support for national populists may in the long term create favourable conditions for resuming mutual dialogue and cooperation between representatives of different social groups. Notes 1 These methods include appeals to ordinary people via promises to protect their interests against those who do not care for them in an apparent effort to attract so-called protest voters; harsh criticism of the political establishment, incumbent administration and established ‘mainstream’ parties for their alleged corruption; unclear program orientation and proclaiming ‘people’s character’ of one’s own political creed; attempts to appeal to the broadest possible electorate combined with labelling certainly social groups as ‘isolated’ 62
