Ep. 108 | How Hungary Became Postliberal Christian Paradise

About this episode

The episode discusses Hungary's transformation into a symbol of conservative thought in Europe and the implications of this shift for American conservatives.

On April 12, Viktor Orbán, Hungary's prime minister since 2010, lost his bid for reelection. To many in the United States, Orbán had become known for corruption and his pro-Putin stance within the European Union, often complicating efforts to deliver unified support to Ukraine. But beyond Hungary's role in European politics, a curious phenomenon unfolded over the past several years: the country came to be seen by some as a bastion of conservative thought in Europe, hosting American journalists and academics eager to study the "Hungarian model." How did a small Central European state, with an economy roughly the size of Oklahoma's, come to symbolize a broader conservative movement in the West? And why did so many American conservatives make pilgrimages to a place most Americans could not locate on a map? Providence Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by James Patterson, associate professor of public affairs at the Institute for American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to discuss the rise and fall of Hungary as a model for the postliberal Christian right. James Patterson. " The Grand Budapest Cartel ." Providence Magazine , April 15, 2026. " Is There a…

People in this episode

Host: James Diddams

Guest: James Patterson

Topics covered

• Hungary
• postliberalism
• Christian conservatism
• European politics
• American conservatism

Keywords

• Viktor Orbán
• Hungary
• Christian right
• conservative movement
• European Union
• American politics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: European Union, Institute for American Civics

Books & works: The Grand Budapest Cartel, Is There a Catholic Plot to Overthrow the American Founding?

Places: Hungary, United States, Oklahoma

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