Illiberal Partners? Understanding Orbán's Pivot to Russia

In July 2014, Viktor Orbán spoke to a group of ethnic Hungarians in Romania, and during this speech Orbán made his now famous quip about “illiberal democracy.” This thesis is an examination of how Hungary arrived at a cultural moment in which a democratically elected leader can disparage democracy, and the broader impact this cultural moment had on the geopolitical landscape of Central Europe. This thesis argues that the illiberal tendencies of Viktor Orbán coupled with developments in both domestic and international politics, over the past quarter century in Hungary, led to an increasingly positive relationship between Russia and Hungary. Under the leadership of Viktor Orbán democratic norms are thwarted, and core principals, such as freedom of the press, are no longer touted as cornerstones of Hungarian democracy. This thesis examines the rise of illiberal democracy in Hungary, and ponders what Hungary’s shift to illiberal democracy means for the EU.Master of Art