Overview
George Soros is a Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist. He funded the Central European University in Budapest, which was effectively pushed out of Hungary by Viktor Orban’s government through targeted legislation (“Lex CEU”) in 2017.
Key Facts
- Funded the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest Five things to know about Hungary’s election
- CEU was forced to move to Vienna after Fidesz passed “Lex CEU” in 2017, requiring it to open a US campus or be shut down Five things to know about Hungary’s election
Newsletter Relevance
Soros is a recurring figure in Illiberal Democracy narratives. Orban’s campaign against Soros-funded institutions illustrates how illiberal governments target civil society and academic freedom as part of institutional capture.
Connections
- Viktor Orban — political antagonist
- Hungary — home country; target of Orban’s anti-Soros campaigns
Source Appearances
- Five things to know about Hungary’s election — mentioned in context of CEU expulsion
Open Questions
- How has the CEU’s relocation to Vienna affected Hungarian academic and civil society capacity?