Un-American
National debates, international takes: In Un-American, I invite experts from abroad to share their perspectives on U.S.-related issues and to add new angles to inherently American conversations.
Hosted by Kai Schnier
Music by sam_o.b
Artwork by The Aliens
Follow Un-American on Instagram for episode updates!
Un-American
Orbán, Trump, and the Road to Autocracy
If the second term of the Donald Trump administration has shown anything so far, it’s that democratic institutions and norms aren’t self-evident. They can be reshaped, undermined, and even destroyed if a government is determined to do so. Hungarian sociologist and former politician Gábor Scheiring learned this lesson as early as 2010. As a member of the oppostion party “Politics Can Be Different” he watched strongman Viktor Orbán take office—and then methodically turn Hungary into an autocracy.
Quoted in this episode: Dietrich Rueschemeyer, Kim Lane Scheppele, Evelyne Huber Stephens
Mentioned in this episode: The Rule of Law and the Frankenstate (essay), Capitalist Development and Democracy (book)
Music by sam_o.b
Artwork by The Aliens
Follow Un-American on Instagram for episode updates!