Militant Democracy, Extremism, and Radical Challenges to Democratic Order

Abstract

This panel examines extremist and anti-system challenges to democratic order in Central and Eastern Europe, a region shaped by legacies of state socialism, democratic backsliding, and contested institutional authority. Bringing together a fascinating mix of research on sovereign citizen movements, populist radical right parties, post-illiberal governance, and militant democracy, the panel explores how democratic legitimacy is challenged and defended across CEE political systems. For instance, some analyse how alternative claims to authority are constructed through historical reinterpretation, pseudo-legal discourse, and exclusionary notions of “the people”, as well as how far-right and populist actors adapt these logics within party competition. Other papers within the panel focus on democratic responses, examining the use of “militant democracy” measures, the media’s role in framing party bans, and the structural dilemmas governments face in restoring liberal democracy after illiberal rule. Finally, the panel considers how left-wing parties respond strategically to the rise of the populist radical right. Overall, these works situate extremism and polarisation within the specific political, institutional, and historical dynamics of Central and Eastern Europe.

Title	Details
Who Watches the Watchmen? Media Framing of Militant Democracy in Romania and Moldova	View Paper Details
Citizen Preferences for Radical Militant Democracy Measures	View Paper Details
Faces of Sovereign Citizens in Post-Communist Europe: American Inspiration and Links with Extremist Groups	View Paper Details
Mainstreaming Radicalism from the Left: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe	View Paper Details
Between Nativists and Populists: Exploring Far-Right Political Identity in Slovakia	View Paper Details