What happens when political change seems impossible? How do images of the enemy shape public discourse? What skills are expected of HR professionals today? In this overview, we have selected highlights from the latest research findings by academics at ELTE’s Faculty of Education and Psychology.
How does political fear-mongering work?
Endre Sik and Péter Krekó examine how the instilling of fear and the reproduction of enemy stereotypes have become a defining feature of a political system. According to the authors, so-called ‘information autocracies’ do not operate as traditional dictatorships, but rather shape public opinion through control of the media and the flow of information.
Having analysed the Hungarian example, they concluded that
certain individuals or groups have repeatedly featured in government communications, where they are portrayed to the public as a threat or a scapegoat.
Researchers refer to this mechanism as the “moral panic button”. According to their analysis, alongside migration, figures such as George Soros, the European Union, civil society organisations, gender ideology and Ukraine, amongst others, have been assigned such a role in recent years.
The research highlights that manipulated information, conspiracy theories and the creation of ideological enemies reinforce one another. The previous Hungarian model did not invent new propaganda tools, but organised familiar techniques into a centralised and enduring system.
The research is part of the MORES Horizon project.
When political change seems impossible
What happens to those who are dissatisfied with the political system but feel that the prospect of change is hopeless? This research seeks to answer this question by further developing Albert O. Hirschman’s classic ‘Exit-Voice-Loyalty’ model.
The survey examined three possible ways out: people can turn to the past; they can imagine a radically different, fairer future; or they can choose to emigrate, that is, to withdraw personally from the system.
According to the findings, the intention to emigrate was particularly strong amongst those who felt that change could not be achieved even through political action.
Narratives that reinterpret the past or the future, by contrast, have inspired even those who have lost hope to engage in certain forms of political participation.
This suggests that even a lack of faith in change does not entirely rule out the possibility that these narratives might inspire political action.
What skills does an HR professional need today?
Through an analysis of 504 human resources job advertisements in Hungary, this study sets out the qualifications, professional experience, language skills and competencies that employers expect in various HR roles.
According to the findings, communication skills, accuracy, confident use of digital tools, problem-solving, flexibility and proactivity are now considered essential requirements. However, the research also highlights that
different HR roles require different skills:
whilst precision and digital literacy are key in operational roles, communication, problem-solving and leadership skills are given greater emphasis in managerial and HR Business Partner positions.
The results not only provide an up-to-date picture of the changing requirements of the profession, but also offer important guidance for the development of human resources training programmes in higher education.