Greskovits, Béla2025-03-252025-03-252020-04-022159-916510.1080/21599165.2020.1718657https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/26719Publisher Copyright: © 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.The article analyses the Civic Circles Movement that paved the way for Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party from the opposition to enduring political rule. It is demonstrated that through extending and connecting the right's grassroots networks and hierarchical organisations, reinventing its holidays and heroes, and mobilising followers for contention, the movement has transformed civil society. The article contributes to the recent literature on illiberal parties and leaders by showing that the civic activism of educated middle-class supporters may be as important for their rise and resilience in power as the votes of less educated groups within their constituency.enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessChristianityIlliberalismcivil societyconservative intellectualsnationalismGeography, Planning and DevelopmentDevelopmentPolitical Science and International RelationsJournal articlehttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078416352&partnerID=8YFLogxKGreskovits, B 2020, 'Rebuilding the Hungarian right through conquering civil society : the Civic Circles Movement', East European Politics, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 247-266. https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2020.1718657201817724