Several fascinating talks on the crisis of liberal democracy

The Hungarian government’s decisions of the last weeks, like banning demonstrations, suspending citizenships or leaving ICC, make sense only if either the EU is inconsequential or if a departure from EU is planned.

Join us tomorrow for a public lecture with @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social!
Register 👉 www.authlib.eu/from-christi...

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Here comes a summary of Orbanization in Hungary. It is feely accessible for a month, then it moves beyond the paywall journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Last call to be part of the MethodsNET Summer School at CEU this summer! 👇☀️ Don't hesitate to register!

Ideological modules of autocratization 1 | This chapter discusses the ideological modules of the recent wave of autocratization. It detects the emergence of still fragmented but increasingly robust

The paper on the ideological layer of the current autocratization wave has been made freely accessible www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-...

I appreciate the sincerity: they want to end EU. Paradoxically, the iitiative comes from the two countries that benefited most.

According to plans, the Hungarian constitution will elevate the right of children for protection above other rights. This is how the Pride will be banned.

Chairman of the Hungarian Parliament: "Ukraine is not a real county because it doesn’t have political history, political elite, governmental traditions”. This shows that Fidesz represents “paternalist populism” and not classical populism. Elitism and statism are central to the definition of nation.

Meet us at Vienna’s biggest education fair! BeSt Fair is happening March 6-9 at Messe Wien (booth U31), and it’s your chance to explore CEU and the programs that interest you.

Stop by, say hi, and add your thoughts to our giant CEU sticky note wall! 📝✨ #CEUatBeSt #SeeUatCEU #StudyinVienna #BeStFair

How the Elite rigged Society (and why it’s falling apart) | David Brooks YouTube video by Alliance for Responsible Citizenship

apparently American conservatives still exist www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSa5...

📢Working Paper Alert!

In the age of spin dictatorships, propaganda isn’t just a tool of autocrats—it’s seeping into democracies, too.

Péter Krekó (Political Capital, @gmfus.bsky.social) explores how modern regimes use social media to manipulate public opinion.
www.authlib.eu/peter-kreko-...

A surprisingly large crowd of 1000s are demonstrating for the independence of the Hungarian judiciary in Budapest.
The protest is organised by the Hungarian Judges’ Association MABIE, and has received solidarity statements from many peer organisations around Europe. @j4j.bsky.social

FULL SPEECH: Robert Fico Speaks at CPAC 2025 Day Two - 2/21/25 YouTube video by Right Side Broadcasting Network

At CPAC Fico expressed his dismay about the insistence of Zelenskiy to be at the negotiating table. What pertinence, indeed. He also invoked anti-fascism, pledged loyalty to Elon Musk, and has committed to a fight against gender and immigrants. Interesting path. www.youtube.com/watch?v=08r-...

Hey, Congress: Make government great again — by turning Trump’s reforms into law President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency is accomplishing in weeks what conservatives have been talking about for decades.

The Heritage Foundation weighs in. To me this style looks very un-American: disciplined, ideological, centralized, future-looking. Is the U.S. becoming Europeanized? nypost.com/2025/02/14/o...

stream of consciousness: "Dear Dr. Enyedi Due to your involvement in the field and the research you published in your paper, "Academic Solidarity and the Culture War in Orbán’s Hungary," IntechOpen invites you to contribute a chapter to Terrorism in Transition: The Shifting Face of Global Threats"

Russia doesn't look like a country capable of much cultural imperialism, but there are no limits if it finds a willing/weak partner. Read this exciting analysis.

This is relevant both for the upcoming German elections and for the more general question concerning the profile of the radical left

This is definitely worth reading: combinations of libertarianism, authoritarianism and conspiracy theories in America and in Czechia.

In my new piece www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
I make an attempt at identifying the ideological offer of actors like Viktor Orban. More on the project at authlib.eu

Once politicians introduce new policies in culture and education they shape the outlook of new generations. Peter Rado and Balint Mikola have just published the results of their empirical investigations on how illiberalism manifests itself in these policy domains. Check it out.

We tend to approach the advances of the populist right from a culture wars perspective. Tomáš Cirhan form Charles University reminds us of the role of public services in his interesting new AUTHLIB post on the Dutch election results.

Elena Cossu identifies four populist groups: Central and Eastern European Populists, the Left and Moderate Centre, the Pro-Europe and Pro-Liberalism Centre and the Identity Politics and Intersectional Left. Somewhat different results from our piece with Martin:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Poland’s Return to Democracy: The Challenges Ahead for the New Government The formation of the new government indicates Poland's return to the democratic path. But dismantling the illiberal system will be challenging, argues Marta Żerkowska-Balas.

🇵🇱 New on the AUTHLIB Blog 🇵🇱
The formation of the new government indicates Poland's return to the democratic path. But dismantling the illiberal system will be challenging, argues Marta Żerkowska-Balas (SWPS University).
www.authlib.eu/polands-retu...

Viktor Orbán's New Assault on Free Media and Civil Society Hungary's draft Sovereignty Protection bill will serve as an informal campaign tool at least until the June 2024 EP elections and will most likely be challenged by the European Commission, but its chi...

Hungary’s draft Sovereignty Protection Bill will serve as an informal campaign tool at least until the June 2024 EP elections, but its chilling effect on 🇭🇺 civil society can hardly be overestimated.
Check-out my analysis at Visegrad Insight 👇
visegradinsight.eu/viktor-orban...

What strikes me is the blatant anti-Ukrainian fervor...