Sport Diplomacy in Hybrid Regimes: The Cases of Hungary and Montenegro

Abstract

The political, economic transition of post-socialist states in Central Eastern Europe and the Balkans took different directions in the 90s. More recently, countries like Hungary, have experienced democratic backsliding, while Western-Balkans states, such as Montenegro, have been stuck in a never-ending transition. Sport is often utilized as a tool by hybrid regimes that systematically degrade democratic principles, dismantle independent institutions and merge political monopoly with economic power. The present comparative study aims to introduce the sport diplomacy approaches of Hungary and Montenegro, focusing on the state-led utilization of sport in foreign affairs. We argue that hybrid regimes governed by strong political elites tend to influence or overtake control of the autonomous sport movements in order to shape their external image in a more conducive way and to support nationalistic political agendas through the popularity of sports.