The Rule of Law Crisis in the International Arena

Abstract

Over the last several years, right-wing populist parties have institutionalised and, in several cases, become leading parties or participants in government coalitions. This now prominent political role has led to conflicts with their opposition over procedures that ensure respect for the rule of law, particularly regarding NGOs and the media, migration, the human rights of minorities, and, at times, sexual preferences. These conflicts have often been exported to the supranational and international arenas, where relations among like-minded sovereignist parties have strengthened in the face of opposition from liberals, the political centre, and the centre-left. However, these relations among sovereignist parties have also witnessed increasing conflicts often rooted in contrasting economic interests, which their now more powerful standing makes difficult to reconcile or ignore. Also, different conceptualisations of sovraignism clash on a range of issues, including the political regulation of lifestyles, international alliances, and ethnic relations. One notable area of such clashes is the rule of law. This is because right-populist parties vary in how they conceptualise the role of law and of legislative bodies, with some seeing it as dominated by unelected elites to be opposed, and others accepting the democratic division of powers while attempting to circumscribe it in delimited policy areas. Some accept international law and the limits it imposes on state action; others much less so. Sovraignism, as the principled and unwavering defense of national interest, is then likely to conflict when an overarching, universally accepted concept of the rule of law is absent. The panel will seek to identify, describe, and analyse some of such instances. The panel aims to address conflicts among sovereignist parties within the domestic and international/supranational arenas. Thus, it will include papers on the relationships among right-wing populist parties in the European Parliament and their interactions with prominent actors, such as the USA, and will consider the processes of alliance formation and their evolution over time. It will also address responses by the opposition, both at the parliamentary level and in social movements, and document their strategies and tactics to contrast violations of the rule of law across various arenas.

Title	Details
A Paradigm Shift in Democratic Governance? The OECD and the Governance of the Future	View Paper Details
The Rule of Law Crisis and FdI (Brothers of Italy) in the International Arena	View Paper Details
Israel’s Basic Laws and Democratic Backsliding: A Political Sociological Perspective	View Paper Details
Security in Exchange for Support: Immigration Narratives and the Populist “Social Contract” on Social Media Across Europe	View Paper Details