4. Weakening of Representative Democracy? A Comparative Analysis of Discursive Incivilities in French and Polish Parliaments

This paper builds on De Wilde’s proposition that “a deterioration in the quality of deliberation” represents a core dimension of democratic backsliding within the European Union. Parliaments, as primary arenas for political deliberation and communication, are foundational to representative democracy. Consequently, any decline in the quality of parliamentary discourse should be understood as an indicator of both parliamentary weakening and democratic erosion. Our research seeks to unpack the factors driving this deterioration by examining discursive practices in two contrasting parliamentary settings: Poland and France. We address the following questions: How have discursive incivilities evolved over time in these legislatures? Which factors—such as party affiliation, power position, ideological orientation, and gender—impact these changes? To answer these questions, we conduct an empirical analysis of plenary debates on migration. Methodologically, the study employs AI-based tools to identify uncivil practices, including interruptions, personal insults, and rhetorical strategies aimed at delegitimizing political opponents. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods, this research contributes to the discussion on parliamentary communication that reflects broader democratic dynamics. The findings will serve as a starting point for theorizing the relationship between discursive patterns and the quality of political representation. Ultimately, the paper contributes to debates on the crisis of representative democracy by highlighting how shifts in parliamentary discourse may signal deeper structural transformations within democratic systems.