The open access book, a first attempt at describing key elements of the gender regime of illiberal rule, explores the social — not merely the political — consequences of illiberalism, a new type of political order that emerged in Hungary in 2010: a form of authoritarian capitalism with an anti-liberal political and social agenda. Our Co-Director, Eva Fodor analyzes an important part of this agenda that directly targets gender relations through a set of policies, political practice and discourse, what she calls “carefare.”

The book reveals how carefare is the anti-liberal response to the crisis-of-care problem and establishes how a state carefare regime includes selective pronatalist measures along with the familialization and sentimentalization of care, with the purpose of disciplining women into doing an increasing amount paid and unpaid work without fair remuneration.

The author analyzes elements of the carefare regime in depth and contrasts it to other social policy ideal-types, demonstrating how carefare is not only a set of policies targeting women, but an integral element of anti-liberal rule that can be seen emerging globally.

Download the book here.