Corruption, State Capture, and Foreign Influence in European Democracies

Abstract

This panel examines the interrelated dynamics of corruption, state capture, and foreign influence as central drivers of democratic erosion in contemporary European democracies. While corruption has long been recognised as a governance challenge within the European Union, recent research increasingly links it to broader processes of democratic backsliding, populist mobilisation, and external interference. Bringing together contributions from comparative politics, political communication, and EU studies, the panel offers a multidimensional analysis of how these phenomena undermine democratic institutions, electoral integrity, and public trust.

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