1. Erosion of the rule of law in the Eastern members of EU 19.3.2018
Katalin Miklóssy
‘Current Trends in European Politics’ – lecture series

2. INTRODUCTION Problems of the master narrative Problems of the concept
Problems of explanatory frames
Structure of the lecture
What is the situation?
Why?
What is Russia’s role?
What next?

3. WHAT? Illiberal Democracy

4. ‘The most stable political system’ (Orbán)
Freedom of the Media
NGOs
Constitutional Court
Public Prosecutor
Party-loyal economic entourage
Corruption
Nationalisation, extra taxation
Culture, education

5. WHY? Back to Europe - Euphoria Mind-set
The power of the Western model (‘End of History’)
National path
Mind-set
Weak democratic experience
Bipolarism
Incompatible concepts

6. ILLIBERAL OR UNDEMOCRATIC?
Political
system
Market Economy
Civil Society

7. PERCEIVING RUSSIA TODAY
Memory of the Soviet Empire is fading
Coming to terms with the past is about chasing domestic culprits
Anti-Russian rhetoric is replaced by anti-EU
Business is more important - energy supply is vital
Ukraine is complex issue – difficult to blame on one side

8. NEW AFFINITY TO RUSSIA Threat to sovereignty – EU
Development model - Illiberal democracy
Considerable resource

9. EU-CRITICISM IS GROWING
EU-Enlargement as new colonialism
New markets
Cheap labour
Tax reduction
Unfair competition
Double standard
EU is interfering in domestic affairs
Domestic firms can not be supported
Restrictions on Russia
Continuous criticism on policy
Refugees

10. Strong leadership
Democratic processes take too much time and hence they are inefficient
Crisis demands extraordinary measures
Nationalism and conservative values protect ‘our’ culture against forced multiculturalism compelled by transnational powers

11. Energy-security
Russia: pipeline passage to the Western markets - Poland and Slovakia
The ECE countries are differently dependent on Russia in gas supply
Hungary: 45 %/81 %
Poland: 15 % - own 5%; from 10%/83 %
Czech Republic: 30%/66 %
Slovakia: 50%/98 %

12. Conclusion Solidarity is overrated
Orban has proved that standing up against the EU can work
Visegrad resistance will continue and perhaps find new ways
EU is helpless
Refugee crisis can potentially become the crisis of the EU