Abstract
The nationalist and patriarchal agendas of the governments of Hungary, Poland, and Türkiye have strong political support. But such support can be tenuous if the material conditions of its citizens is weakened or falters, and if such weakening is associated with government policy. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of some of the main labor and social policies in Hungary, Poland, and Türkiye to understand why these governments enjoy widespread electoral support, despite an array of illiberal policies that have chipped away at the democratic foundations of the countries.
It argues that in addition to its populist rhetoric, the three