Democractic Backsliding

Overview

Democratic Backsliding refers to the process of declining integrity for democratic values or institutions within an established democratic political system. It involves the deliberate weakening or elimination of political institutions that sustain democracy, often led by state actors. Key aspects of democratic backsliding include:

Erosion of democratic norms and values rather than sudden regime change.
Targeting of key democratic institutions like the judiciary, legislature, media, and civil society.
Gradual undermining of checks and balances and accountability mechanisms.
Restrictions on civil liberties, free speech, and minority rights.
Strategic manipulation of elections and electoral processes rather than outright fraud.
Use of legal means and democratic institutions themselves to consolidate power.
Often driven by populist or authoritarian leaders seeking to expand executive power.

Democratic backsliding differs from more overt forms of democratic breakdown like coups. It typically occurs through subtle, incremental steps that may be hard to detect initially. Countries experiencing backsliding may still hold elections and maintain some democratic facades while becoming increasingly authoritarian in practice. Measuring backsliding often involves tracking declines in democracy indicators over time, as well as assessing public attitudes towards democracy and authoritarian alternatives.

On Democratic Backsliding

What Is Democratic Backsliding?

The U.S. Constitution and the Risk of Democratic Backsliding

Global report lists U.S. among 'democratic backsliding' countries

Laws, Norms, and Democratic Backsliding

Today The United States Supreme Court Overthrew The Central

Premise Of American Democracy: That No One Is Above The Law

The Supreme Court Sets The Stage For Dictator Donald Trump

On Democratic Backsliding

What Is Democratic Backsliding?

The U.S. Constitution and the Risk of Democratic Backsliding

Global report lists U.S. among 'democratic backsliding' countries