The migration myth in the absence of immigrants: How does the conservative right in Hungary and Turkey grapple with immigration?

Abstract

This article shows that the issue of immigration remains very central to understanding notions such as national identity and threats to homogeneity in Turkey and Hungary. Even in the absence of large-scale immigration, conservative socio-political leanings commonly prevail against immigration due to a general aversion of foreignness in societies. In presenting how two conservative right parties grapple with the self-inflicted problem of immigration, this article advocates that political parties usurp prevalent fears among their voters.