The political landscape across Europe is undergoing a seismic shift, characterized by the rise of “young populist” movements in countries like Germany and Portugal. Unlike the established, somewhat dated propaganda machinery of Hungary’s Fidesz party—which relied on a 16-year grip on state power to saturate the media—these new movements are more agile. They tap into genuine grievances, such as the soaring cost of housing and the disillusionment of young people forced to emigrate. While some observers suggest that parties elsewhere might try to replicate Viktor Orbán’s success, analysts argue that this is easier said than done. Orbán’s model was not just about messaging; it was built on a foundation of captured state institutions and a manipulated media market that would, in any healthy democracy, face stiff penalties for spreading disinformation.
The fragility of these state-backed propaganda empires was laid bare in Hungary recently, proving that they are often little more than houses of cards sustained by corruption. When Peter Magyar emerged as a political force, he made it clear that a government under his leadership would immediately pull the plug on state-funded advertising. The results were instantaneous: Mediaworks, the massive pro-Orbán conglomerate, began downsizing, and the influential social-media network Megafon—which long denied receiving public funds—suddenly closed its offices and dismissed its staff. It is a cautionary tale for those who believe that top-down, state-funded propaganda can survive without the constant infusion of public money and institutional protection.
However, we cannot simply rely on the collapse of these systems to save us, because the way we consume information has fundamentally changed. We live in an era of 24/7 news cycles, AI-generated content, and social media algorithms that prioritize emotional reaction over thoughtful synthesis. Experts like Dora Horvath warn that we are losing the ability to step back, process a piece of information, and reflect on it. Instead, we are being funneled into tribal corners, where fear and hatred—instincts as old as humanity itself—are weaponized against our critical thinking. This is not just a Hungarian problem; it is a systemic vulnerability in the digital age, where algorithms often give a disproportionate megaphone to extreme narratives.
TikTok, in particular, has become a potent battlefield where disinformation, including Russian-backed narratives, often drowns out moderate voices. Studies show that social media consumption is directly linked to an increased likelihood of supporting populist parties, ranging from the far-right AfD in Germany to the far-left Die Linke among the youth. The content performing best on these platforms often bears little resemblance to the actual, nuanced opinions held by the majority of the population. This creates a feedback loop: people see a distorted version of reality on their screens, which nudges them toward radical politics, which in turn fuels more extreme content creation.
So, how do we respond? The answer isn’t necessarily censorship, but rather “fighting fire with fire.” Democratic politicians must abandon the stiff, stage-managed press releases of the past and embrace the raw, grassroots energy that made someone like Peter Magyar so effective. By engaging in constant, honest in-person campaigning and leveraging short-form video to communicate directly with citizens, democratic leaders can shatter the illusion that populist movements are invincible. Additionally, experts suggest that we should treat foreign influence and information manipulation as a matter of national security, focusing on detecting and disrupting the coordination behind these campaigns rather than simply banning individuals.
Ultimately, we must accept the sobering reality that propaganda is here to stay. It is an ancient tool that exploits our deep-seated tribal instincts, and it cannot be fully eradicated. Instead of chasing the impossible goal of a “propaganda-free” society, our efforts should be focused on building resilience. This means pushing for smarter regulations—such as enforcing campaign spending limits and closing loopholes in media laws—while simultaneously integrating media literacy and fact-checking into our daily political life. By fostering a culture that values democratic education and critical thinking over the mindless consumption of viral anger, we can inoculate our societies against the most toxic elements of modern political manipulation.