Most European post-communist societies after 1989-1991 appeared to be on the road to liberal democratic capitalism. However, a quarter of century after the change of the system, at least some of the countries began to drift sharply away from liberal democracy. But as long as democratic institutions operate, as long as leaders are elected to office, the ruling elites of illiberal democracies need a legitimating ideology which can appeal to a broader electorate. We call this post-communist traditionalist/neo-conservative ideology. Iván Szelényi, Emeritus Professor NYU Abu Dhabi/Yale. 10 June 2016.