First Poland, then Hungary, now Slovakia – the rule of law was and is under threat throughout Austria. The prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, are pursuing nationalist policies that have long since reached the cultural scene. They have long since reached the cultural scene. Culture is increasingly being used as an instrument of propaganda and repression.

In Slovakia, for example, writer Michal Hvorecký is facing up to five years in prison because, as culture minister, he described himself as a neo-fascist who came to government via an extreme right-wing party. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has already announced that it will follow Orbán’s example if it gets the chance in Austria to follow the example of Orbán and Fico.

With

Michal Hvorecký – author
Paul Lendvai – publicist
Moderated by Cathrin Kahlweit

The talk will be in German.

Tickets and more information: Eine Bühne für Osteuropa: Kultur und Repression | Burgtheater

Cover picture: Eine Bühne für Osteuropa, Akademietheater © eSeL.at – Robert Puteanu

Eine Bühne für Osteuropa – A stage for Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe has been in a permanent state of upheaval – since the fall of communism in 1989, since the eastward expansion, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, and not least since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cathrin Kahlweit, expert on Eastern Europe, publicist and long-time SZ correspondent, sheds light on the current situation in Eastern Europe in discussions with prominent guests as part of the series “Eine Bühne für Osteuropa”. This series of talks is a collaborative production of  Burgtheater, ERSTE Foundation,  Siedler Verlag and Karl-Renner-Institut.