As in Hungary now in Poland? Assessing the states of democracy in Hungary and Poland as 'lands in-between' democracy and autocracy

Abstract

The European Commission filed infringement procedures against both its member states Hungary and Poland, addressing recent, highly controversial legislation passed by the respective governments. Both governing parties declared similar prosperities towards illiberal democracies. Such an illiberal turn is not unique to these countries, it is rather a global trend with the decay of democracy being evident in all regions of the world. Thus, the regimes turning away from democracy towards autocracy are subjects to numerous scientific debates. Wolfgang Merkel developed the concept of defective democracies to conceptualise the a grey zonea between both regime types. This thesis will assess and categorise the states of democracy of Hungary and Poland in accordance to this concept. Furthermore, this thesis will formulate a prognosis on whether and how FIDESZ and PiS might continue with reforms changing their countrya s polity and discuss possible mechanisms the EU can pursue to intervene within the transformation processes.