The Orban Model…

This week, American right-wing politicians and institutions are cozying up to Hungary’s Viktor Orban to advance Putin’s anti-Ukraine agenda. It’s stomach-churning just to think about:

Needless to say, Republicans pulling the rug out from under Ukraine in a way that accomplishes Putin’s goals would deal a devastating blow to democracy that would reverberate around the globe.

But even these meetings don’t capture how troubling the tie is between Orban and America’s right-wing. Because the Orban connection isn’t just about the subversion of democracy elsewhere. It’s about the trampling of democracy and freedom right here in America!

Orban has perfected an approach that experts refer to as “competitive autocracy” or “electoral autocracy.”

The model keeps in place enough public processes—anchored in regular elections—to leave an impression with the people of a viable democratic system. To create a sense of legitimacy.

But it’s a false impression.

Because at the same time, the Orban model subverts most institutions and processes that are foundational to a thriving democracy and a functioning rule of law. An election may take place, but the actual choices of elections have largely ceased to exist, and the crucial checks and balances of a healthy democracy are gone.

And what you get instead is a corrupted democracy—not a democracy at all, really—where a minority view stays in power no matter what the people think, where other institutions are locked up so that power is monopolized, and where those in power exist above the law.

Key steps in Orban’s creation of such a system in Hungary have been intense gerrymandering of legislative elections, the political takeover of election systems, attacks on independent courts, media and academia, and so on.

And when you take a close look at these key Orban tactics, what you quickly see is how similar they are to the attacks in democracy taking place in state after state. These corrupted states are adopting the central elements of the Orban model in front of our very eyes.

While CPAC, Tucker Carlson, and numerous right-wing politicians publicly praise all Orban is doing, back in states, they don’t just praise it—they’re doing it!

So, when you see a really partisan gerrymander in an American state, think of this:

And when you see an attack on independent courts, as we’ve seen in Ohio and North Carolina in recent years, think of this:

And when you see attempts to put right-wing ideologues in charge of universities, as is happening at Youngstown State right here in Ohio:

…or right wing censorship or attacks on academic freedom in state after state, think of this:

And when you see continued attacks on the independent media at all levels, and the use of government channels to disseminate disinformation (as we saw in Ohio during Issue 1), think of this:

Bottom line: the attack on democracy playing out in states across our country is alarmingly similar to how Orban has locked himself into power in Hungary.

Which means the cozying up with Orban this week, and overall, isn’t just a threat to the stability and security of Ukraine and Europe.

It’s a threat to democracy in state after state in our own country.

See it all for what it is.

Fight back.