Is the West really that different?

Hungary and Poland have both faced accusations of violating the EU’s democratic values. András Sajó argues that while it has become common to portray these states as implementing distinct forms of illiberal democracy, they share more in common with ‘western’ democracies than is commonly recognised. The actions of the Hungarian and Polish governments should be viewed as an abuse of constitutionalism and the rule of law, not as a different conception of these ideas.