Populism in Central and Eastern Europe

The rise of illiberal democracies across Central and Eastern Europe represents an ongoing challenge to the democratic and liberal principles of post-Enlightenment societies. However, considerable debate remains about how to disentangle the complex factors that have contributed to this phenomenon and gain a clearer understanding of the issues shaping the political landscape. In this incisive analysis of the populist phenomenon, Populism in Central and Eastern Europe re-examines the roots of the current political situation, tracing the historical evolution of Central and Eastern European populism.

From late nineteenth-century Imperial Russia to Viktor Orbán’s Hungary and Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Poland, this book offers an innovative approach to addressing these enduring political issues.