The Contestation of Universal Rights in Central Europe

What explains the contestation of universal rights in Central Europe? Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, have experienced a dramatic increase in the contestation of universal rights in the past five to ten years, and we, therefore, turn to them to explore the rise of the socially conservative political alliance between parties and socially conservative groups. We show that conservative mainstream parties have significantly radicalized over time and allied with socially conservative civic groups. Socially conservative groups provide populist parties with resources, legitimacy, and mobilize votes but in return demand policy changes. When in power, populists are constrained by public opinion and deliver selectively. Radicalized mainstream parties block the expansion of LGBT rights and object to expanding gender equality and the Istanbul Convention. However, they stay clear of abortion because restriction of reproductive rights sparks anti-government protests. This selective policy approach is best explained by populist responsiveness.