Populism in Central and Eastern Europe: Manifestations and Impact in Interdisciplinary Perspective.

This thematic cluster examines the rise and impact of (right-wing) populism and illiberalism in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), focusing on their political, cultural, economic, and gender-related dimensions within post-communist societies. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches and original empirical research, the four included articles analyze both the demand side—highlighting economic factors and voter behavior in countries like Hungary and Bulgaria—and the supply side, exploring populist discourse and style in Poland and Ukraine. The cluster situates CEE as a critical region for understanding broader patterns of democratic backsliding and autocratization, noting the influence of leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orbán on populist movements beyond the region. Originating from the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network "Delayed Transformational Fatigue in Central and Eastern Europe: Responding to the Rise of Illiberalism/Populism" (FATIGUE), this project addresses gaps in the literature by including lesser-studied countries and emphasizing the complexity of populism beyond purely political analyses.