Rebuilding democracy after years of illiberal governance involves complex challenges, from restoring democratic institutions and the rule of law to ensuring political accountability and rebuilding international relations.
On October 20, 2026, Sonja Priebus (European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)) delivered the ValEUs Lecture “Rebuilding Democracy after Illiberalism in Hungary – Challenges and Prospects” at the University of Florence. The lecture examined the challenges facing Hungary following the change of government in April 2026, focusing on institutional reconstruction, political and economic accountability, and the country’s reintegration into the European Union.
The lecture took place as part of the ValEUs event Ripe for Diffused Illiberalism? Democratic Challenges in Contemporary Europe, which also featured a roundtable discussion on The Many Faces of Illiberalism, bringing together scholars to explore the broader conceptual and transnational dimensions of illiberalism.
We invite you to watch the lecture recording below. Please note that the recording features only Sonja Priebus’s lecture and does not include the roundtable discussion.
For more information about the full event, please visit the original event announcement.
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ValEUs Lecture Series
The ValEUs Project organises a lecture series exploring the contestation of European values in EU foreign policy and its wider implications from a broad perspective. Aimed at scholars, students, civil society actors, and policymakers, this series fosters research exchange and deepens our understanding of contemporary issues and challenges directly impacting and involving the EU. Hosted by partner universities within our consortium, the series invites contributions from diverse voices to enrich the debate.
