Description
Book SynopsisBrave New Hungary focuses on the rise of a brave new anti-liberal regime led by Viktor Orbán who made a decisive contribution to the transformation of a poorly managed liberal democracy to a well-organized authoritarian rule bordering on autocracy during the past decade. Emerging capitalism in post-1989 Hungary that once took pride in winning the Eastern European race for catching up with the West has evolved into a reclusive, statist, national-populist system reminding the observers of its communist and pre-communist predecessors. Going beyond the self-description of the Orbán regime that emphasizes its Christian-conservative and illiberal nature, the authors, leading experts of Hungarian politics, history, society, and economy, suggest new ways to comprehend the sharp decline of the rule of law in an EU member state. Their case studies cover crucial fields of the new authoritarian power, ranging from its historical roots and constitutional properties to media and social policies. The
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Historicizing an Anti-Liberal Turn János Mátyás Kovács and Balázs Trencsényi Chapter 1: Reinventing Hungary with Revolutionary Fervor: The Declaration of National Cooperation as a Readers’ Guide to the Fundamental Law of 2011 Chapter 2: Totalitarianism without Perpetrators? Politics of History in the “System of National Cooperation” Chapter 3: Civil Society in an Illiberal Democracy: Government-Friendly NGOs, “Foreign Agents,” and Uncivil Publics Chapter 4: Beyond Electioneering: Minority Hungarians and the Vision of National Unification Chapter 5: The Role of Religion in the Illiberal Hungarian Constitutional System Chapter 6: The Right Hand Thinks: On the Sources of György Matolcsy’s Economic Vision Chapter 7: Towards a “Work-Based Society”? Chapter 8: The Fear of Population Replacement Chapter 9: Votes, Ideology, and Self-Enrichment. The Campaign of Re-nationalization After 2010 Chapter 10: Viktor Orbán’s Propaganda State Chapter 11: Ideology or Pragmatism? Interpreting Social Policy Change under the System of National Cooperation Chapter 12: The Central European University in the Trenches Chapter13: The Post-communist Mafia State As a Criminal State Chapter 14: Democracy for Losers. Comment on Bálint Magyar Chapter 15: Nothing But a Mafia State? Chapter 17: Supply Side Revolution: The Consequences of the 2015 Polish elections Chapter 18: Regime, Parties, and Patronage in Contemporary Romania Conclusion: Hungary–Brave and New? Dissecting a Realistic Dystopia
