210114 SE M9: Illiberalism in East-Central Europe (2025S)

The year 1989 brought profound changes for the state-socialist countries of Europe. However, the post-1989 transition toward a market economy and liberal democracy did not proceed without stagnation and setbacks. The initial euphoria gradually gave way to disillusionment as illiberal tendencies gained strength in some countries. This development is particularly evident in the former showcase transformation states – Poland (2015–2023) and Hungary (since 2010).

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán publicly questioned the “Western” model of liberal democracy in 2014 and instead promoted the idea of an “illiberal democracy.” Similarly, in Poland, the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) pursued increasingly illiberal policies after coming to power in 2015. Shortly after the government transition, the independence of key democratic institutions, particularly the Constitutional Tribunal, was significantly curtailed. Additionally, the media, judiciary, and civil society organizations came under growing political pressure.

The aim of this seminar is to provide students with a comprehensive insight into the current crisis of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on illiberalism. Both the strategies of political elites and societal developments, including public attitudes, will be examined.

The course is structured into three blocks. First, key concepts and theoretical frameworks will be explored, with a focus on the tension between liberal and illiberal democracy. Next, the political developments in Central and Eastern Europe will be analyzed, particularly the role of the state-socialist legacy, the transition period, and current crises as potential drivers of illiberal politics. Finally, students will present and discuss their small empirical research projects developed throughout the seminar. This will help contextualize and concretely illustrate illiberalism in practice.