Stayin’ Alive? Putting Democracy in the Spotlight

In their critically acclaimed contribution "How Democracies Die", Levitsky and Ziblatt (2018) argue that democracies erode not at the hands of generals but instead because of popularly elected leaders who undermine established democratic norms. They posit that a democratic backsliding is an incremental process slowly restricting the room for manoeuvre of liberal democracy's core principles including a separation of powers, the rule of law, the equal protection of civil and political rights and freedom of the press. In light of the growing prominence of so-called populist leaders and parties globally, democracy and its longevity is firmly in the spotlight. To address this en vogue topic and the challenges identified by Levitsky and Ziblatt, this section approaches democratic systems from a comparative and temporal perspective and explores how institutions, political actors, and voters are responding to various threats emerging from within democracies. Questions which the section seeks to investigate include what motivates voters to opt for parties and candidates that challenge long-standing conventions? How do voters feel about democracy, efficacy, and political competition? Is it possible to develop stress tests for democratic institutions, and are there essential ingredients that make up a democratic survival kit? The Section is organized in collaboration between the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) project and the ECPR Standing Group on Public Opinion and Voting Behavior in Comparative Perspective.