Coping with a Closed and Politicized System: The Advisory Roles of Political Scientists in Hungary

Abstract

This chapter provides a first look at the policy advisory system of an illiberal-populist democracy, Hungary, asking how can we explain the low level of advisory engagement of Hungarian political scientists? and how can we apply our theoretical framework to describe the patterns of policy advisory activities of Hungarian political scientists? Based on an overview of Hungarian policymaking, we expect a closed, politicized policy advisory system dominated by the central government and its externalized structures of advice. Access is expected to be selective, based on personal connections. We find that policy advice is neither especially restricted nor incentivized by professional norms and academic career considerations, but there is a general lack of fit between knowledge demand from policymakers and traditional areas of political science. The decisive factor in explaining the low level of engagement in Hungary seems to be demand from the potential recipients and the selective access to the policymaking process. Advice is institutionalized outside of academia and the internal governmental arena, with (consulting) firm membership being the strongest predictor of advisory engagement and think tanks being the most frequent recipient. The advisory strategies observable are often highly informal, while those lacking personal connections utilize alternative, more formal means.