The roots of contemporary illiberal tendencies in the media in post-communist Central Europe

Exploring the emergence of illiberal democracies in Central Europe necessitates a renewed perspective on the region’s post-1989 development. This study examines the illiberal tendencies present in the media during the 1990s, which many contemporary political actors seek to revive. The media serves as a key battleground between the dominant post-1989 liberal consensus and the current wave of illiberalism in post-communist Central Europe. The study traces the origins of these illiberal media tendencies within the broader process of democratization during the 1990s. The study argues for a continuity between these historical disputes and the contemporary trend towards illiberal media governance in Central Europe. It underscores the need to understand the distinct trajectories of media development in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Employing a Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD), it also identifies cross-national differences in the establishment of public service media, the liberalization of media markets, and the professional autonomy of journalists.