Fidesz and the Re-inscription of Budapest’s Infrastructure

First elected in 1998, Hungary’s current leading political party, Fidesz, has used its influence to dismantle the left-wing democratic narrative constructed by the municipal body of the city by inscribing its own ideals on the city’s infrastructure. Through parks, memorials, and museums, the national identity of Budapest has been reshaped by those in power. This paper explores the ways in which political power and ideology are reflected in city infrastructure and how that infrastructure, in turn, is used to support political power and ideology. Using Budapest as a case study highlights the ways in which social memory can be manipulated to the benefit or detriment of democratic society