We are pleased to invite you to a seminar titled “Authoritarian Learning Across the Pond,” which will focus on the transnational spread of populist ideas, practices, and political strategies in Hungary, Poland, and the United States.
The seminar will be a joint initiative of the Department of Methodology at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw and the European Studies Section of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The event will take place on July 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Room 223, on the 2nd floor of the Auditorium building of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Warsaw, on the main campus of the University of Warsaw at 26/28 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street in Warsaw.
The seminar will feature two presentations on various aspects of populist learning, political networks, and transnational influences. Due to the presence of international experts, the event will be conducted in English.
Panel 1
In the first panel, Prof. Anna Wojciuk and Dr. Edit Zgut-Przybylska from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences will present a paper titled “Shared Hierarchies, Competing Nations: Transnational Learning Among Right-Wing Populists in Hungary, Poland, and the United States.”
R. Daniel Kelemen, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Director of the McCourt Chair at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, will participate in the discussion. The panel will be moderated by Prof. Joanna Fomina of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
In their presentation, the authors will analyze why right-wing populists learn from one another across national borders, even though they rarely form lasting international alliances. They will present the argument that a shared ideological commitment to restoring national social hierarchies fosters the spread of narratives, political tools, and strategies that undermine liberal norms. At the same time, when these ideas are translated into the realm of international politics, competing nationalist ambitions often lead to rivalry rather than lasting cooperation.
Drawing on examples from Hungary under Viktor Orbán, Poland under the Law and Justice party, and the United States during and after Donald Trump’s presidency, the speakers will discuss the ways in which populist actors exchange practices in areas such as migration, family policy, and restrictions on civil society. The presentation will also highlight the limitations of sustained transnational coordination among these actors.
Panel 2
In the second panel, Prof. Ákos Kopper of ELTE University will deliver a presentation titled “What Happens to a Fallen Populist Idol? Will Viktor Orbán be forgotten, or will he continue to be held in high regard in populist circles?”
Prof. Anna Wojciuk will participate in the discussion, and Dr. Edit Zgut-Przybylska will moderate the panel.
The presentation will focus on the international symbolic role of Viktor Orbán, who for over a decade has been viewed as a model and point of reference for populist politicians in Europe and beyond. Following the end of this political success story in April 2026, the speaker will ask what happens within populist networks when a once-esteemed political figure loses power. The discussion will cover possible reactions by populist movements to the downfall of their former role model, as well as the question of whether the image of the “populist success story” is fading or continues to shape political perceptions.
The seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss how authoritarian and populist ideas cross national borders, how political actors learn from one another, and what happens when transnational political models face a crisis.
Abstracts of the presentations and biographies of the speakers will be included in the attachment to the invitation.
If you are interested in participating, please RSVP by July 6 at: a.wojciuk@uw.edu.pl or ezgut@ifispan.edu.pl.
