Resisting illiberalism

Abstract

In recent years, extensive academic debate has focused on the overall health of democracies. Scholars have discussed whether the world is experiencing a broad democratic retreat or, alternatively, a more limited rise of authoritarianism affecting only certain countries. Within this broader debate, particular attention has been devoted to democratic backsliding and the emergence of new forms of democratic erosion. Alongside these analyses, recent scholarship has increasingly examined how democratic actors can resist the rise of illiberalism. Whether illiberal leaders and parties are in government or in opposition, the challenge they pose to democracy raises two fundamental questions: first, how to identify and assess the threat posed by illiberal political projects; and second, how democratic actors should or do actually respond to them. The academic and public debate on resisting and countering illiberalism is already extensive. Some proposals emphasize long-term and structural responses, while others focus on shorter-term political strategies. As a result, a variety of approaches have been implemented across different contexts, producing both successes and failures in efforts to contain illiberal actors and movements. Given these developments, it is timely to examine the repertoire of strategies employed to resist illiberalism, including those pursued by civil society, political parties, governments, and public institutions, and to identify the conditions under which such resistance is most likely to occur and prove successful