Anti-Regime Movements in Illiberal Regimes in East-Central Europe: a Theoretical Model

Abstract

The paper introduces an ideal type of anti-regime movements against illiberal regimes in East-Central Europe, employing the Weberian concept of the ideal type as a theoretical model. These movements aim to constrain regime building, restructure political institutions, and prevent the expansion of illiberal regimes into subsystems such as civil society, culture, and the economy. Initially focused on specific conflicts, these movements often broaden their scope over time, attracting individuals who were not directly involved in the original disputes but who seek to express general discontent with illiberal regimes. The ideal type is differentiated from counter-hegemonic and public policy movements. Empirical analysis of this ideal type is based on large-scale protest waves in Hungary and Poland. The characteristics of the anti-regime movement are shaped by historical legacies and the particular aspects of de-democratization in East-Central Europe, rooted in the democratic transition of 1989. This concept of anti-regime movements can serve as a crucial foundation for empirical research, offering insights into the differences between social movements in Western and Eastern Europe.