I was in Brussels this week to host an EPICENTER event for the launch

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I was in Brussels this week to host an EPICENTER event for the launch of Timbro’s Authoritarian Populism Index ([link removed]) . EPICENTER is a network of ten European free market think tanks, including Timbro and the IEA of course.

It just so happened that this was the same day the National Conservatives were holding a conference in the Belgian capital. While our panellists discussed the harm populism is causing Europeans, Viktor Orban, Nigel Farage, and Eric Zemmour discussed the merits of powerful national governments and the Hungarian model of ‘illiberal democracy’.

Or at least they were meant to be. The Mayor of a Brussels district tried to ban the conference and sent the police to shut it down on the basis that the ideas being discussed were a disturbance to peace. On Tuesday, the police barricaded the venue, preventing anyone, including many speakers, from entering while only allowing those inside to leave.

National Conservative ideas are very different from my classical liberal beliefs. However, in a free society, robust debates are meant to be held, and ideas should be openly discussed, irrespective of disagreement. While our conference was successful and undisturbed, the same privilege should have been extended to NatCon participants.

Without freedom of speech, it becomes much more difficult to expose how bad the ideas of National Conservatives are in reality. For example, whilst NatCons claim to continue the legacy of Thatcher and Reagan, in reality, their ideas expand the scope of government, which becomes more expensive to maintain.

According to a recent study examining the economic effects of authoritarian populist parties in power, 15 years of populist rule lower a nation’s per capita GDP by 10 per cent compared to non-populist rule. My home country, Hungary, ruled by the National Conservative Viktor Orban, is slowly becoming one of the poorest EU member states from one of the richest new EU members that joined in 2004.

Populism has become a norm in European politics, albeit Britain is a positive outlier so far – mainly thanks to our first-past-the-post electoral system. However, no country is immune to collectivist ideas, and classical liberals always need to make the case again and again, why free societies and free market principles are the best political way forward.

This is why I signed – alongside dozens of notable classical liberal thought leaders – this letter ([link removed]) calling for the protection of freedom of speech. In the end, the NatCon conference was allowed to proceed following the Belgium court overturning the mayor's earlier decision. The saying ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’ applies to NatCon too, even if I spend my days fighting their ideas!

Adam Bartha

IEA Director of International Outreach & EPICENTER
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** UK ranked second least authoritarian populist country in Europe, finds new index ([link removed])
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The Authoritarian Populism Index offers a comprehensive overview of the major ideological trends in European politics, focusing on parties advocating illiberal and authoritarian ideologies.
* The index ranks the UK at 30 out of 31 European countries, with support for authoritarian or populist parties reaching just 2.9% at the last general election.
* The average support for left- and right-wing parties advocating authoritarian or populist ideologies across Europe stands at 26.9%, a historic high but no growth since 2019.
* Surging immigration has fuelled support for right-wing authoritarianism and populism, while the radical left faces a steady decline.
* Hungary, Italy, France, Greece, and Poland have the highest support for populist parties in Europe and provide warnings about embracing populist policies.

UK press release ([link removed])
Full Publication ([link removed])
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15 years of populist rule lowers a nation's GDP by 10%

Director of International Outreach & EPICENTER Adam Bartha, EPICENTER X

Authoritarian populism… At present, there is evidence suggesting a consolidation of support for populist parties, but no indication of further expansion.
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IEA Latest.
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Why is the party of Winston Churchill banning smoking? ([link removed])

Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon, Spiked ([link removed]) , Guido Fawkes ([link removed]) , The Critic ([link removed]) , TalkTV ([link removed]) , GB News ([link removed]) & BBC Radio Ulster

Case open… This week, the government’s generational tobacco ban passed the first stage in Parliament, a depressingly fitting epitaph to this authoritarian and unprincipled Tory government.
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The Tory tobacco ban is all smoke and mirrors ([link removed])

Communications Officer & Linda Whetstone Scholar Reem Ibrahim, The Daily M ([link removed]) ail ([link removed]) , CapX

An attack on liberty… Even one of the world’s biggest nanny states, New Zealand, had to bin the proposal to ban tobacco over fears about a rise in a black market and lost revenues.
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A Growing Black Market

Head of Lifestyle Economics, Christopher Snowdon, GB News

Criminals rejoice… The generational tobacco ban will fuel criminal activity.
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Unlocking Singapore’s Economic Miracle: Insights from Bryan Cheang ([link removed])

Communications Officer Harrison Griffiths interviews Dr Bryan Cheang of King's College London, IEA YouTube ([link removed])

Singapore on Thames?… What can we learn from Singapore’s economic success?
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Let’s be honest, Tesco making big profits is a good thing ([link removed])

Director of Communications Matthew Lesh, City AM

Profiteering… Instead of criticising Tesco for having a bumper year, we should praise it for providing cheap food and jobs for millions.
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Adrian Chiles Opens Up About Personal Drinking Journey | Swift Half with Snowdon ([link removed])

Christopher Snowdon interviews broadcaster Adrian Chiles, IEA YouTube ([link removed])

The One Show… How do societal norms dictate alcohol consumption?
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Free trade vs “self-sufficiency” in agriculture: a rejoinder to my critics ([link removed])

Director of Communications Matthew Lesh, IEA Blog ([link removed])

Trading to freedom… International trade ensures Britian’s food supply is more diverse, cheaper and secure. Policymakers must put the public good above sectional interests.

IEA Insider.


** Applications for Freedom Week 2024 are OPEN! ([link removed])
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Freedom Week is an annual, one-week seminar which teaches students about classical liberal, free market, neoliberal and liberal perspectives on economics, politics, history and society. It is open to over-18s who are currently attending or about to start university. The week is entirely free to attend: there is no charge whatsoever for accommodation, food, tuition or materials.

Dates: 19th - 23rd August 2024

Location: Cambridge
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** IEA Book Club with Alex Edmans ([link removed])
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This Tuesday, the IEA Book Club will host Professor of Finance at London Business School Alex Edmans to discuss his upcoming book May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases—And What We Can Do About It ([link removed])

Date: Tuesday, 23 April

Time: 17:30 - 19:30

Location: IEA Offices, 2 Lord North Street, SW1P 3LA
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RSVP ([link removed])


** Camp Vinson Opportunity ([link removed])
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The IEA, Vinson Centre, and Institute of International Monetary Research are offering a residential programme at the Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham.

The programme, targeted at undergraduates interested in classical liberalism, includes a series of lectures, seminars, debates, discussions, and social activities.

Dates: 17th - 21st June 2024

Location: Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham
Apply for Camp Vinson ([link removed])


** Are you interested in international trade? Join the Global trade Coalition monthly meeting
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The Global Trade Coalition meeting is co-hosted by Americans for Tax Reform’s Philip Thompson and the Institute of Economic Affairs’ Reem Ibrahim. We bring together like-minded groups focused on reducing trade barriers and maintaining rules-based trade from across the globe.

It takes place on the 3rd Thursday of every month, at 9.00am EDT, 2.00pm GMT, 3.00pm CEST on Zoom. If you would like to attend please contact Peter via email (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) .
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