In this new episode of our podcast series produced in cooperation with the Journal of Democracy, Ferenc Laczó speaks with Kim Lane Scheppele about her article, “Can Péter Magyar Restore Hungary’s Democracy?”
The conversation discusses the major challenges and dilemmas that the new Hungarian government led by Péter Magyar faces after 16 years of illiberal rule and illiberal state-building by Viktor Orbán and his cronies; how the prospects of Hungarian democracy look in comparative perspective; how European law and European funds are shaping those prospects – and what has surprised Kim Lane Scheppele the most in recent months.
Kim Lane Scheppele is the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University.
The conversation was conducted by Ferenc Laczó on July 20, 2026. Lilit Hakobyan edited the audio file.
