Democratic Regression and Resilience: Democratic Backsliding, Populism, Autocratisation and the Defence of Liberal Democracy

Abstract

Against the backdrop of a decade marked by global democratic decline, this inter-disciplinary panel critically examines new developments in the on-going debate on democratic regression and resilience. Contributions to the panel will engage with key concepts such as militant democracy, democratic backsliding, populism, (il)liberal democracy, and so forth. The overarching aim is to subject these concepts to critical scrutiny, as well as engaging in sustained reflection on their relevance for understanding the attacks on popular rule that currently unfold in formally democratic countries around the world. One key theme we seek to explore is the usefulness of the normative language that is predominantly used to describe these developments, especially the idea that democracies can ‘backslide’ or ‘regress’. Another major theme of interest are possible ways forward: How can democracy be restored when it has been undermined by illiberal actors? How can democracies that face attacks by anti-democrats display greater ‘resilience’? Contributors will delve, amongst other things, into the intricacies of the controversial doctrine of militant democracy, examining its normative justifications, and scrutinise how it might help to guard against populism, constitutional erosion, and illiberal tendencies. In sum, bringing together democratic theory, legal scholarship and research in comparative politics, the panel will advance our understanding of democracy’s contemporary vulnerabilities, challenges, and potential mechanisms of defence.

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