Lenka Bustikova, Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida, delivered a lecture titled “Amicus curiae: Who endorses uncivil society in Central Europe?” at Stockholm University’s Department of Sociology and at Central European University (CEU). Her talk examined the growing politicization of reproduction and family dynamics in Central Eastern Europe and offered a critical reassessment of prevailing explanations of illiberalism.
Challenging strictly top-down or bottom-up interpretations, Professor Bustikova emphasized the influential role of socially conservative advocacy groups, many of which are embedded in transnational networks. These organizations act as intermediaries between political elites and the public, facilitating regulatory change and shaping the trajectory of cultural conflict. Her analysis highlights their central importance in understanding the escalating culture wars in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.