News from the CEU Democracy Institute

The ninth issue of the Democracy Bulletin, the quarterly newsletter of the CEU Democracy Institute (DI), focuses on our most important achievements and publications in the previous months. If you don’t want to miss any of our news items, events, publications, podcasts or videos, then please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

HIGHLIGHTS

Roma Civil Monitor Project Presented at the European Parliament

The initial monitoring cycle of the Roma Civil Monitor project has been concluded, and the evaluations of the Member States' recent National Roma Strategic Frameworks (NRSFs) are now available. Furthermore, a synthesis report from the RCM that summarizes the results of the country reports served as one of the sources for the 2022 EC Communication that evaluates the new NRSFs. Hence, Roma Week provided a suitable occasion to present certain findings from the RCM's first monitoring cycle.

New Book Co-authored by Dorottya Szikra

One year after the Russian invasion, the Invisible University for Ukraine (IUFU), an initiative launched by the Central European University (CEU) with the involvement of the DI in the spring of 2022, continues to grow. IUFU offers academic continuity for Ukrainian students whose studies have been affected by the war. After the success of the 2022 Spring Semester, 2022 Summer School, 2022 Fall Semester and 2023 Winter School, a new chapter begins: 2023 Spring Semester. The project has been characterized by offering an intensive learning experience on the role of Ukraine in the changing European and global contexts, placing relevant questions for Ukrainian students in a transnational comparative perspective. However, it is not intended to replace or duplicate the existing educational opportunities in Ukrainian universities, but to support them.

New Book by Zsolt Cziganyik

Mothers, Families, or Children? authored by our Research Fellow Dorottya Szikra, along with Tomasz Inglot and Cristina Rat, represents the first comparative-historical investigation of family policies in Poland, Hungary, and Romania from 1945 to the eve of the global pandemic in 2020. The book illuminates the emergence, consolidation, and perseverance of three distinct types of family policies based on a "mother-orientation" in Poland, a "family-orientation" in Hungary, and a "child-orientation" in Romania. Employing an innovative theoretical framework, it identifies core and contingent clusters of benefits and services in each country and traces their development over time, under different political regimes, both before and after 1989.

New Book Co-edited by Dimitry Kochenov

Citizenship and Residence Sales, edited by Dimitry Kochenov, lead researcher of our Rule of Law Workgroup, and Kristin Surak (LSE), and published by Cambridge University Press, adopts an interdisciplinary approach in dissecting investment migration, a fast-growing global phenomenon. The book provides a multidisciplinary investigation of both citizenship and residence by investment on a global scale. It brings together the expertise of leading scholars in law, economics, sociology, political science, and history, offering an informative and empirically grounded assessment of the origins, operations, key causes, and legal bases of the investment migration programs.

European Parliament Published Study by Laurent Pech

The research conducted by our Senior Research Fellow Laurent Pech, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs, at the behest of the AFCO Committee, focuses primarily on the extent of the jurisdiction of the CJEU concerning national measures that pertain to the organization of national judiciaries. Following an overview of the legal framework post-Lisbon Treaty, the study provides a chronological outline and a transversal assessment of the CJEU's case law relating to the second subparagraph of Article 19 (1) TEU.

DI, Corvinus and Harvard Organized Symposium to Honor the Legacy of Janos Kornai

In commemoration of Janos Kornai's 95th birth anniversary, an inter-university conference was held in Budapest on May 15th and 16th, paying homage to the globally recognized economist. Over thirty presentations delved into the application of his life's work in comprehending today's complex problems and finding solutions, from the climate catastrophe to the role of the internet and the background to Russian military spending. The conference was co-organized by the CEU Democracy Institute, Corvinus University of Budapest, and Harvard University, all of which shared a strong intellectual and emotional connection with Kornai. Moreover, the symposium aimed to establish the groundwork for a future research institute in Kornai's name, by assembling various generations of scholars who were influenced by the economist's life's work.

Panel Discussion on Geopolitics and Democracy in Europe and Hungary

The Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe (Vienna), the French Institute of International Relations (Paris), the CEU Democracy Institute (Budapest), and the Political Capital Institute (Budapest) organized a panel discussion to address today’s challenges. The keynote speech was delivered by Peter Balazs, former European Commissioner and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Hungary, and the panel included renowned experts: Jacques Rupnik, Ursula Plassnik, Zsuzsanna Szelenyi, and Peter Kreko. The discussion, moderated by Paul Lendvai, focused on the current geopolitical age, with a specific emphasis on Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine and their implications for democracy and the rule of law.

Book Discussion with Timothy Garton Ash

Felix Ackermann from FernUniversität in Hagen, Celia Donert from Cambridge University, Ferenc Laczó from Maastricht University and Review of Democracy, Renáta Uitz from CEU DI, and Joanna Wawrzyniak from Warsaw University engaged in a discussion on Homelands. A personal history of Europe. The online panel was organized by the CEU Democracy Institute and its journal, the Review of Democracy. The roundtable with Timothy Garton Ash, the author of the book, encompassed various topics, including the changes that Europe underwent during the post-war and post-wall eras, the perspectives that a literary work such as this presents to its readers, and other related issues.

Irish Speaker Series: Lecture on Post-Brexit Ireland, Britain and the EU

Tony Connelly, Europe Editor for RTÉ, was invited as a guest speaker for the 9th session of the Irish Speaker Series, a collaborative initiative between the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland and Central European University (CEU). The event was opened by CEU’s Pro-Rector for Budapest, Laszlo Kontler and Ronan Gargan, Ambassador of Ireland to Hungary, and chaired by Renata Uitz, Co-Director of the CEU Democracy Institute and Professor at CEU's Department of Legal Studies. The lecture series aims to highlight and honor the connections between Ireland and Hungary, as well as their shared future within the European Union.

Andras Bozoki Quoted by Washington Post

According to our Research Affiliate Andras Bozoki, who was quoted in the Washington Post, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban believes that in the long term his actions will yield a favorable outcome. The article delves into the strained relationship between Hungary and the United States, with particular emphasis on the International Investment Bank, which has been dubbed as Russia's spy bank.

Radio Free Europe Features CEU in Budapest

On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Lex CEU, RFE published a photo report about CEU in Budapest, and interviewed some of our colleagues. The article further highlights some of the educational initiatives in Budapest, including the Borderless Knowledge series and the Invisible University for Ukraine. It also delves into what remains of the CEU in Budapest after the move to Vienna, how the Austrian campus looks and what is happening there. In another article, the outlet, through interviews with our colleagues, also discovered what is left in Budapest, what the Vienna campus looks like and what is happening there. It also examined what Hungarian higher education has gained and lost with the law.

Rule of Law Clinic Launched

With a generous 1 million euro grant from the Mercator Foundation, CEU Rule of Law Clinic endeavors to tackle the most critical challenges to the Rule of Law in Europe. Operating from the CEU Democracy Institute, the Clinic will play a pivotal role in providing direct assistance to practitioners and scholars. It will oversee the formulation of expert academic legal opinions, offer public support to Rule of Law professionals, conduct engaging programs to enhance awareness, and facilitate fellowships to enhance expertise on pressing Rule of Law issues. 

OPPORTUNITIES

CEU Democracy Institute Leadership Academy

DILA is a unique leadership training program offered by the CEU Democracy Institute for a new generation of public leaders in Central and Eastern Europe. The curriculum covers topics on democratic governance and equips fellows with an extensive array of strategic and leadership skills that are essential for a successful career in public life. Applications are still open! See the details here. 

RESEARCH

DEMOCRACY IN HISTORY

Addressing Autocracy through Alternative Education

In the framework of the 'Academics Facing Autocracy' program, the workgroup organized a workshop at CEU in Vienna on April 17 to discuss how to make academic initiatives that provide alternative education to universities occupied by autocratic regimes resilient.  

Democracy in East Central European Utopianism

In the May edition of the Jeno Szucs lecture series, Zsolt Cziganyik and Iva Dimovska introduced the theoretical background and novelties of their research project "Democracy in East Central European utopianism", including their original choice of geographic region.

DE- AND RE-DEMOCRATIZATION

Two Chapters in the Routledge Handbook of Political Parties

The Routledge Handbook of Political Parties, edited by Neil Carter, Daniel Keith, Gyda M. Sindre, and Sofia Vasilopoulou, features two notable chapters authored by members of the DRD: "Political Parties in Sub-Saharan Africa," written by our Research Affiliate Matthijs Bogaards, and "Party Systems and Party System Change," written by our Senior Research Fellow Zsolt Enyedi and Fernando Casal Bértoa.

Murat Somer Joins the Workgroup

Murat Somer, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Koç University (Istanbul) has joined the DRD as a Research Affiliate. He is an accomplished expert on polarization, de-polarization, religious and secular politics, ethnic conflicts, autocratization and democratization, has an extensive publication record in renowned journals and has held visiting positions at Princeton University, Stockholm University, and Sanford University.

ENVIRONMENT AND DEMOCRACY

The REAL DEAL Handbook

Citizen engagement, consultation and participation are fundamental aspects of the relationship between governments and the people under international and European law and policy. As a foundation for these activities, this Handbook has been developed to present general, practical guidance for citizens, civil society organizations, other stakeholders, implementing authorities, governments, and legal professionals.

Authoritarian Populism and Natural Resources Depletion

In an era marked by the rise of authoritarian populism and the urgent challenges posed by climate change, the construction of environmentally sustainable and democratic political systems is deemed the most crucial political endeavor of our time. In a seminar, Noemi Gonda, researcher at the Department of Urban and Rural Development at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), examined the dynamics of land and climate politics in Hungary and Nicaragua.

INEQUALITIES

Gender Politics of Democracy Protests: Exploring Inclusive Practices

The Inequalities WG organized a workshop on May 24-25 titled "Gender Politics of Democracy Protests: Path to More Equality?" Scholars from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, and Poland gathered to discuss pro-democracy protests within their respective countries. The focus was on understanding how these protests contribute to inclusive democracy practices and narratives, with an emphasis on gender dynamics.

Strengthening Equality through Recognition of Injustice

The project "Recognition and Acknowledgement of Injustice to Strengthen Equality" (RAISE), launched on May 1, brings together a consortium of six academic institutions and four non-governmental organizations. Over the next three years, the project aims to deepen our understanding of how ethnic, racial, and religious boundaries are formed within various institutional contexts of everyday life. Through research and outreach efforts, the project will focus on six European countries, including Hungary, and aspires to contribute to the promotion of equality by shedding light on the mechanisms and impacts of these boundaries in society.

MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY

First Results of the REENGAGE Project

Our researchers seek to understand how automation on social media impacts civic participation, engagement, and solidarity in social movements. Our researchers presented preliminary findings at the annual ANN-SONIC-NICO conference on communication and network science at the Kellogg School of Business in May. They have found that once activists meet automated agents (like social bots) on Twitter or Wikipedia, they see a loss of collaborative and communication ties among humans. They have also seen an increase in negative sentiment, and a weakening of community cohesion. These results indicate that social media automation has wide ranging negative social consequences, and present a hostile and difficult terrain for social movement organizations to have their voices heard. They are working to understand what resistance tactics and alternative organizational practices can counter-act the anti-social pressures of online automation.

RULE OF LAW

Contribution to an Art Catalog

Dimitry Kochenov contributed a critical piece to an art catalog in the form of a newspaper accompanying Alfredo Jaar’s exhibit “One Million German Passports” at the Pinakotheke der Moderne in Munich. The contribution focuses on the nature of global citizenship and migration law installing a world-wide system of apartheid and draws on his essay in the International Journal of Constitutional Law. 

Judicial Dialogue about Judicial Independence

A case note authored by Barbara Grabowska-Moroz and published in Common Market Law Review addresses the challenges pertaining to the future of EU judicial dialogue in light of the increasing presence of counterfeit judges in Poland. 

PODCASTS

Permanent Negotiation

Balazs Trencsenyi, lead researcher of the History and Democracy Workgroup describes the larger challenges that the projects he is currently involved in aim to address.

Nazi Collaboration and Holocaust Museums

Andrea Peto discusses the impact of nationalism on Holocaust narratives in seven European Union countries and beyond.

Informal Power in Hungary and Poland

Oliver Garner engages in a conversation with Edit Zgut-Przybylska to explore the intricacies of the informal power system and its impact on governance.

Party Alliances in Turkey

Zsolt Enyedi and Murat Somer delve into the political landscape of Turkey, which, despite a history of cooperation among political parties within and outside the government, remains deeply polarized.

REVIEW OF DEMOCRACY

Our journal, the Review of Democracy (RevDem) is an open platform to discuss, analyze, reflect on, and develop possible solutions to the challenges to democracy across the globe today. Read its most important publications from recent weeks:

Ukraine in the EU: Reforming the Governance of EU Enlargement

The workshop in the European Parliament brought together scholars, policymakers and representatives of think-tanks to discuss issues like the EU’s role in promoting and maintaining democracy and rule of law beyond its present borders, whether it can help to set lesser developed economies on sustainable developmental path if the policies it uses inside the EU have widened developmental gaps and put several economies in member states on developmental paths with questionable sustainability. Learn more here.

Suspending Hungary’s Presidency of the Council of the EU?

In recent weeks proposals by the Meijers Committee to suspend Hungary’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2024 have received support in a resolution of the European Parliament. Oliver Garner discusses these proposals in the wider context of the Rule of Law crisis with John Morijn and Alberto Alemanno. Read or listen to it here.

Power-Sharing Liberalism

In conversation with Ferenc Laczo, Danielle Allen discusses her proposal of a power-sharing liberalism and explains why she calls herself a “eudaemonist democratic pragmatist”; shows why it is essential to foster a connected society and measure that society by the principle of “difference without domination”; reflects on what a paradigm change in political economy could look like and which model of citizenship would be most suitable for our times. Listen to it here.

MEET THE DI

Learn more about our colleagues! Click on the image below to watch their videos, in which they introduce themselves, and talk about their work. Stay tuned, a new video is coming on Fridays.

Learn more about the CEU Democracy Institute