Abstract
This study examines the relationship between the recent discussions that Hungary has moved away from fundamental democratic values and turned into an illiberal democracy and the transformation of Hungarian foreign policy by taking Hungary’s relations with the Turkic states as a case. The dynamics of Hungarian foreign policy towards the Turkic states as part of Hungary’s post-2010 strategy of Eastern Opening are taken as a case study and the influences of these dynamics on perception differences about Hungarian democracy are analysed. It is discussed whether Hungary’s developing political and economic relations with the Turkic states since 2010 involve an emulation of the political models of these states and whether this has an impact on the so-called transformation of Hungarian democracy into an illiberal democracy. It attempts to reveal the extent to which foreign policy developments are decisive for Hungarian domestic politics and, in particular, to identify the triggering factors for Hungary’s rapprochement with the Turkic states. It seeks to answer the question of whether Hungary’s motivation to adapt a more authoritarian -leaning political model or pragmatic economic intentions are more hegemonic in the relationship between Hungary and the Turkic states.