Authoritarianism and Misinformation in Eastern Europe

Some countries in Eastern Europe are experiencing democratic backsliding, brutal government crackdowns on opposition, exclusion of LGBTQ+ people and other minorities, and increased xenophobia as the region sees an influx in refugees. What explains this revival of authoritarian politics, nearly three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union? How are populism and populist movements contributing to public life in Eastern Europe? What roles do religion and religious actors play in regional politics?

This discussion will feature PBS NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Simon Ostrovsky, who has reported on political trends in Belarus and Poland, and Marlene Laruelle, director of the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University.

Ostrovsky and Laruelle will discuss the rise of authoritarianism in Eastern Europe and how it has been advanced through the use of media and misinformation, including the Belarusian crackdown on government opposition. The conversation will also cover the rise of mainstream conservatism and nationalism in Eastern Europe, as well as the complex roles of religion and religious actors in the region. Berkley Center Senior Fellows Jocelyne Cesari and Jose Casanova will also join the conversation as respondents and facilitators. 

This event is co-sponsored by Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

This event will be recorded and a captioned video will be posted to this page after the event date. Please RSVP to receive an email notification once it is posted.