Shrinking space: the changing political opportunities of advocacy groups in illiberal governance

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper focuses on how illiberal politics in post-2010 Hungary have affected the political opportunities of advocacy groups in terms of influencing policymaking and how the latter have adapted their strategies to this challenge. Based on a series of interviews conducted with the representatives of advocacy groups as well as members of the central administration, the paper investigates the changing patterns of policy advocacy in three arenas: the venues of social dialogue, the arena of direct lobbying, and that of activism. The expectation of the research was that the undermining of social dialogue by the government would spur advocacy groups to relocate their activities into direct lobbying and activism. However, the general picture is of a decline in advocacy activity. A decade of illiberal politics has changed not only the political and institutional environment of advocacy groups but also the general social context. Faced with these challenges, Hungarian advocacy groups have not been able to come up with strategic innovations which would have redefined their objectives and means. As a theoretical contribution, the paper suggests that the concept of political opportunities should be broadened in order to account for the deep social transformations that are brought about by illiberal politics.