Post-Truth as a Governmental Practice – Applying post-truth as an alternative epistemology in Hungary

Abstract

After the 2016 Brexit referendum and the US presidential elections, the concept of post-truth has become influential within both the media and academic discourse. However, this discussion remained rather theoretical, with relatively few empirical studies applying the concept. This article aims to broaden the empirical scope of the post-truth concept by introducing it in the Hungarian context. Following Lewandowsky, Ecker and Cook’s (2017a) argument post-truth will be approached as an alternative epistemology . After this, the empirical analysis captures how this alternative epistemology has gained a dominant position within the Hungarian society through direct governmental support. The case study reveals that the primary aim of post-truth as a conscious political strategy is to preserve the division between social epistemologies, instead of creating an exclusive one. Thus, post-truth politics cannot only effectively support anti-establishment initiatives but should also preserve and strengthen already-existing power structures.