But analysts say “Trianon Syndrome” is also useful for nationalist-populists keen to portray themselves as protectors of the nation. And few do that better than the ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

As the centenary of the treaty looms next year, Fidesz is preparing for a big commemoration with a brand new monument at Kossuth Square, just opposite the parliament building in Budapest.

By jabbing at the wounds of Trianon, commentators say Fidesz seeks to rally Hungarians everywhere around a common cause, even as it depicts Hungary as a helpless victim of history.

Such a sense of victimhood is not unique in Central Europe, where over the centuries borders have frequently been redrawn and whole communities have been forced to pack their bags and relocate.

But analysts say Fidesz has proven to be a master of capitalising on memory politics, while portraying itself as the only political force capable of defending the nation’s interests.

“Fidesz completely monopolises the word ‘nation’ and national politics,” Peter Kreko, director of the Political Capital think tank, told a conference on identity and memory politics co-organised with the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Budapest.

“In their narrative, there is a government which represents the national interest and an opposition which betrays it. And the opposition has not been able to come up with a positive counter-narrative so far.”

Democracy watchers say left-wing and liberal parties in Hungary have long neglected the field of memory politics, leaving it to the nationalists to shape the narrative to their liking.

Those on the left believed the EU would solve all of the country’s problems while settling historical grievances and making the nation-state obsolete. Now they are playing catch-up, scrambling to find a form of non-exclusive, modern patriotism.