Reproduction and family dynamics have become increasingly politicized in Central Eastern Europe. Most studies of illiberalism adopt either a top-down or bottom-up framework to analyze the politicization of family values. The top-down framework conceptualizes polarization as a phenomenon orchestrated by political elites, whereas the bottom-up framework attributes it to resentment and deprivation as catalysts for identity politics. Nevertheless, the escalation of culture wars cannot be fully comprehended without considering the rise of socially conservative advocacy groups, many of which are connected to transnational networks. Regulatory policy changes are often facilitated by intermediaries that link political elites with voters, playing a critical role in the intensifying polarization observed in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.