The Rise of Authoritarianism in Europe

Authoritarianism is grounded around the idea that authority can be used to compel voluntary obedience without question. It is a product of many clashing nineteenth-century beliefs. It pushes to foster a government — a regime — where power is vested with the government’s beliefs and not the people’s. At its core, authoritarianism is a device used to gut democracy and shape a system of unquestioned power over those who are ruled over. Nonetheless, numerous European countries have pushed for this rule in recent years. These changes are reflected in different facets of the new wave of European authoritarianism, such as in countries like Hungary, Russia, and Turkey. All three countries exhibit authoritarian tendencies and are often synonymous with modern-day authoritarianism. They are prime examples of what a modern-day authoritarian regime encapsulates, and how it has a severe impact on the nation’s growth and development.

Hungary is a prime example of the steady growth in authoritarianism across Europe. In 2010, many in Hungary saw a drastic change in their political sphere, with the introduction of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban, from the start of his campaign, made it clear that he planned to change the policy on a massive scale. When he was inaugurated, Orban changed the Hungarian Constitution several times, to carry out what he called his “vision.”.  Many political scientists have claimed that Orban has spread anti-democratic rhetoric through acts such as the one mentioned above. People such as Lydia Gall, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, claim that Orban rules with, “draconian policies, [and has] criminalized basic democratic activity by civil society organizations,” and have therefore claimed that he is working to deconstruct the core values of Democracy within Hungary. His policies have been shown to undermine progressive policy and push adherence toward traditional ways of thinking. An example of such is the “pro-family” policies produced by Orban, which reinforce traditional gender roles, and reduce women to their reproductive qualities. In addition, Orban produced his collection of legislation, known as the “Stop Soros” acts, which worked to target organizations aiding migrants. Orban’s way of governing has drifted Hungary into a new wave of authoritarianism, where those who do not adhere their behavior and identity to the laws produced by Orban’s administration are subject to the will of the law. 

Similarly, Russia has a maturing authoritarian government that is constantly being molded by the circumstances of Russia itself. During Vladimir Putin’s regime, before the current prime minister Mikhail Mishustin, a wash of what many considered “tyranny” was upon Russia. Putin had an iron grip on the nation and was known to have complete control over the media and press. Oftentimes, Putin made addresses to call for a complete cleansing of society, wanting complete obedience from those within Russia. He created a system where any of the Russian elite benefitted from the immense centralized power structure in Russia, making class-based movement virtually impossible. Putin intentionally structured the Russian democracy to favor policy shaped by the elite. Previous Soviet-funded institutions have become centralized hubs for the elite to maintain complete political control over Russia. The Russian legislature system has been dominated by elitist factions who have developed a system of political networking, able to assume complete control over certain areas of policy. Yet, by far the biggest display of authoritarianism is the crackdown on those who speak out against his way of ruling in Russia. From Putin’s influence, a silent majority has developed. The majority in Russia are too afraid to speak out and end up enforcing an unwritten social contract, submitting complete control to Russia in exchange for basic well-being — which is in itself a lie. Those who refuse to submit to this contract face persecution and cruel punishment from every source of authority — except the state itself, which refuses to get involved — but also refuses to stop such torture from occurring. The environment in Russia has become one of authoritarianism in full. Even with the resignation of Vladimir Putin, an elite class still dominates Russia and continues to hold control over all who remain in the public sphere.

Across the continent, Turkey exhibits deep-rooted authoritarian tendencies. What once was a democracy imbued with principles of equality and economic achievement has become a center for brewing authoritarianism. This stems from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s consolidation of power over Turkey through his political party, the AKP (Justice and Development Party) which had an agenda of promoting a liberal and pro-European version of conservatism. The party aimed to achieve all of the above under the guise of making the country more democratic. However, as the party faced its third re-election in 2015, a shift of values occurred. During the 2015 election, the AKP failed to gain enough votes and thus did not make re-election. As a result of this, the party switched to more nationalistic tendencies, beginning to work with other smaller nationalist parties in order to create a despotic regime over Turkey. When they regained control of power, they unleashed a crackdown on those who dissented from the standard expected from the government. Under Erdoğan’s leadership, there has been a noticeable crackdown on opposition voices, including journalists, activists, and academics. Many people who criticize the government have been arrested or faced legal action, leading to a climate of fear and self-censorship. The government has also taken control of media outlets, making it difficult for alternative viewpoints to be heard. This, inevitably, led to the coup in 2016 which was an exemplary showcase of how authoritarian regimes react to dissent. The coup against, Erdogan’s leadership occurred as a result of nationwide frustration towards the limiting legislation and policy being placed on Turkish citizens. There were tensions between parties, which were reflective of more intense divisions within Turkish society over the country’s direction and identity. Following the coup, the government initiated a large-scale purge of civil servants, educators, and military personnel, accusing many of them of being linked to the coup plotters. Turkey has since moved away from what the country once geared towards, which was to be a democratic, moderate government. Instead, it has adopted a far more authoritarian and nationalistic viewpoint that plagues the current ongoings in Turkey as recent as the modern day.

In conclusion, the awakening of a reimagined authoritarian resurgence in Europe has given cause for concern to the countries that reside in Europe. As Europe grapples with the resurgence of this political ideology, the international landscape of the world remains vigilant in safeguarding the fundamental values of democracy and human rights. While the countries listed above, and many others like them, have signs of fully assimilated authoritarian regimes, that is not to say that there are efforts to reform democracy within these nations. Many still work to preserve democratic ideals as a collective effort to return these nations to a stable democracy. However, it is the belief of many political scientists that the only way to do this is through a concentrated approach, aimed at confronting the growing threat of total totalitarianism across Europe. While countries such as Russia, Hungary, and Turkey all have remaining ties to authoritarianism, there are strong efforts within all three countries to reach the democratic standard of humanitarianism and to reshape a government that serves the interests of the people.