Illiberal conservative developmental statism

Post-communist countries were a major playground for neoliberal development strategies, but long before the global financial crisis, nationalist counter-movements emerged in Russia and the countries that had pioneered liberalism and western integration – Poland and Hungary. Their ideologists do not merely legitimize those in power but, seeking to shape political thinking and programs, they also form new thought collectives. We argue that these thought collectives envision an economic nationalism resembling East-Asian developmental states, while attempting to redefine conservatism. This vision combines a sovereign state with a dominating executive acting as a developmental agent for catching up with more advanced economies; perceptions of endangered national identity that needs protection; and the promotion of "traditional values" and redistributive policies favoring families with many children for counteracting the demographic crisis these countries face. We term this particular combination illiberal conservative developmental statism and briefly explore how it translates into socio-economic policies.