Defending Democracy_ The Paradox of Advocacy Abroad

How can a country claim to defend democracy overseas when it refuses to protect it within its own borders? This question brings us to the third episode of our exploration into democratic backsliding. Today, we will unravel the paradox of countries that tout democracy abroad while undermining it at home, a phenomenon that is increasingly hard to ignore.<br />Let's start with Hungary, a nation that has dramatically shifted since Viktor Orbán took power in 2010. Under his leadership, Hungary has faced significant erosion of democratic norms. Judicial independence has been systematically undermined, media outlets are stifled, and electoral laws have been manipulated to cling to power. This alarming trend has led to Hungary being branded as an “illiberal democracy.” According to Freedom House's latest report, Hungary has slipped from "Free" to "Partly Free," highlighting the concerning extent of state control over both media and judiciary. With such a status, how can Hungary possibly advocate for democracy abroad?<br /><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/conspiracy-theories-exploring-the-unseen--5194379/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/conspiracy-theories-exploring-the-unseen--5194379/support</a>.