Albright examines the rise of Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, and his transformation from a pro-democracy advocate in the 1980s to a promoter of "illiberal democracy" in the 21st century. Albright recalls Orbán’s early career when he gained fame in Hungary for his speech during the reburial of Imre Nagy, a martyred leader of the 1956 Hungarian revolution against Soviet rule. His bold speech in 1989 called for the end of communist dictatorship and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Hungary, earning him respect as a reformist.

By the 2010s, Orbán’s political stance had shifted drastically. Upon returning to power, he pursued a nationalist and populist agenda, positioning himself as a defender of Hungarian identity. His policies focused on promoting ethnic nationalism, limiting the rights of minorities, and rejecting the liberal democratic values of the European Union. Orbán’s government has altered Hungary’s constitution to consolidate power, weaken the judiciary, and control the media. His embrace of "illiberal democracy" parallels the autocratic approaches of leaders like Vladimir Putin in Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey.

Orbán's rhetoric emphasizes Hungarian unity but defines it through an exclusionary lens, favoring ethnic Hungarians over other minorities, particularly immigrants and refugees.