Illiberal Welfare States in Europe’s Periphery
Dorottya Szikra (CEU Democracy Institute)
March 4, 15:00 CET
Description:
Based on my research on social policies under declining democratic polities and populist governance, in this lecture I will first theoretically discuss the relationship between welfare states, democracy/autocracy, and populism. Then, using the cases of Hungary, Turkey, and Russia, I will specify illiberal and populist social policy making (as opposed to liberal democratic social policy reforms) in Europe’s periphery. Finally, I propose an argument about the ways in which social policy reforms shaped, and often, strengthened autocratizing rule in diverse geopolitical contexts. Using opinion poll data, I will particularly focus on how autocratizing regimes managed to win popularity among female constituencies via traditionalist family policies.
Readings:
Szikra, D., & Öktem, K. G. (2022). An illiberal welfare state emerging? Welfare efforts and trajectories under democratic backsliding in Hungary and Turkey. Journal of European Social Policy, 33(2), 201-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/09589287221141365
