The Rise of Identity Politics and the Erosion of Democracy

Abstract

“Democracy and pluralism are under assault”, reads the opening statement of a report recently published by Freedom House. Over the last decade, we have been witnessing democratic institutions backsliding, fair elections degrading and the principle of rule of law and liberal values being under threat. Last Freedom House annual reports are also reinforcing the idea that the quality of democracy in more and more states across the globe is eroding, whereas new or only revitalized phenomena are ascenting on the global political arena. Ethnic, racial, religious, social, cultural, sexual and other identity-based movements are thrivering across the world, which divides and deepen the gap between peoples, and in some cases, degenerating into slashing conflicts. Ergo, this panel opens a fora of discussion about the current crisis liberal democracy is enduring, the rise of the so-called identity politics as well as new political movements that are blossoming around the world.

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