On 9 January 2026, the AUTHLIB consortium organized the workshop “Illiberalism, Authoritarianism, Populism: Historical Roots and Legacies in Comparative Perspective” at Central European University in Budapest. Bringing together leading historians, political theorists, and social scientists, the event explored the historical antecedents, intellectual traditions, and long-term legacies of illiberalism across Europe. Through a series of country-focused and comparative presentations spanning East Central, Western, Northern, and Southern Europe, the workshop examined how past political ideas, movements, and regimes continue to shape contemporary illiberal politics. The discussions highlighted both enduring patterns and national specificities, providing a deeper historical perspective on the challenges illiberalism poses to liberal democracy today.
The program of the workshop is available HERE.
Photo credit: István Fazekas
