The Illiberal Playbook: Gender, Power, and Control
Author(s): Andrea Pető, Zsuzsanna Balázs Language: English Year of publication: 2026 Page Range: 280 ISBN: 978-3-949607-60-8 E-ISBN-13: 978-3-949607-59-2
Subject(s): politics, Gender studies, Political history
Many may not know the original context of the statement the title of this book alludes to. When Réka Szemerkényi, the ambassador to Washington, was unexpectedly recalled in 2017, Viktor Orbán, in response to a journalist's question about the reasons, replied: “I don't deal with women’s affairs.”
The book offers a popular but comprehensive analysis of Viktor Orbán’s illiberal policies on human and gender rights. It provides an accessible introduction to how the illiberal gender playbook impacts women, presenting how the government has co-opted and eroded national and international anti-discrimination and equality provisions, thereby creating an alternative to liberal values. Moreover, the book analyzes the reasons behind the decision of women to cast their votes in favor of an illiberal government that discriminates against and impoverishes them. As the Orbán government’s gender policies gain international attention, this book serves as a cautionary tale for those concerned about human rights worldwide.
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