Budapest Pride 2025: A Study through Ferrero´s Theory of Power

This article analyzes the 2025 Budapest Pride through the lens of Guglielmo Ferrero’s theory of power and legitimacy. Ferrero argued that illegitimate regimes rely on fear to maintain control, a concept used here to examine the Hungarian government's attempt to ban the Pride event. Despite legal threats and institutional repression, the parade was held peacefully, demonstrating a significant act of civil resistance. The article argues that the regime's intense response revealed its awareness of its own fragility and lack of legitimacy. Ultimately, the mass participation in the Pride demonstrated the power of citizens who recognize their own legitimacy over that of a coercive political system.