Embedded Autocracy

Reviews / Votes

must-read book * Survival: Global Politics and Strategy Journal * "This book is a terrific critical analysis of the 'de-democratization' of the Hungarian regime under the four-term rulership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. I can't imagine a better informed or more informative and interesting book on Hungary's descent into illiberalism and 'embedded autocracy.' Written by Bozoki and Fleck, two of the top Hungarian scholars and public intellectuals writing on the topic, it will be indispensable for experts and generalists alike." -- Jeffrey C. Isaac, Indiana University, Bloomington "How do you embed an autocracy? Unless you are handed one on a plate it can take a lot of work. But it rarely starts from scratch. Many autocratic ingredients are likely there already, but it needs a sinister master chef who knows how to combine them, augment them with flavours and spices of his own, and then keep stirring the pot. Hungary had the ingredients, and it has the chef. That is the story of the regime that has ruled Hungary since 2010. It is a remarkable story, here well and insightfully told, in all its layered, excruciating, and ultimately bitter detail. Not a happy one, but fascinating and remarkably complex. The book turns out to be both a recipe-book for a particularly unpalatable concoction, and a thriller with no happy ending in sight." -- Martin Krygier, UNSW Sydney "Delve into the labyrinth of Hungary's political landscape with Embedded Autocracy: Hungary in the European Union. Bozoki and Fleck go beyond the superficial, unveiling the entrenched roots of Hungarian autocracy within society. Their nuanced exploration peels back the layers of the Orban regime, revealing a complexity that continues past leadership or institutional shortcomings. This interdisciplinary work, straddling the realms of political science and legal scholarship, isn't just about Hungary-it's a beacon for global democracy. Essential for policymakers and scholars alike, it offers vital insights into understanding and combating the erosion of the rule of law and democratic decline." -- Petra Bard, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands