ABSTRACT
Viktor Orbán, like many populists profiled in this book, is a study in contrasts: He hates immigrants and is alleged to be dismantling democracy, yet people call him a hero. Nearly every political institution in Hungary has been affected by Orbán and his band of long-time associates who help him govern the country. Greater control with fewer restrictions permitted the proliferation of all types of atrocities that occurred with little political fanfare. This occurred while the press faced daily scathing criticism for undermining Orbán’s authority. In the space of a few short years, Orbán refashioned the Hungarian government in his image. This chapter compares his leadership style to that of Donald Trump and how they both employ splitting and projective identification to control people and act with near-total impunity.
