The Trap of Wish Fulfillment

How entrenched has Viktor Orbán’s rule become in Hungary after a decade and a half? How might domestic and international political shifts, especially Donald Trump’s second administration, impact the country’s trajectory? To answer those questions, this essay outlines the foreign policy strategy the Orbán regime has pursued and assesses its chances of success; discusses the recent emergence of a charismatic opposition leader and what that unexpected development may reveal about the domestic political situation; and considers the possibility and pitfalls of a liberal democratic restoration, including what building democracy back better would entail.