Book description
Following democracy's global advance in the late 20th century, recent patterns of democratic erosion or 'backsliding' have generated extensive scholarly debate. Backsliding towards autocracy is often the work of elected leaders operating within democratic institutions, challenging conventional thinking about the logic of democratic consolidation, the enforcement of institutional checks and balances, and the development and reproduction of democratic norms. This volume tackles these challenges head-on, drawing theoretical insights from classic literature on democratic transitions and consolidation to help explain contemporary challenges to democracy. It offers a comparative perspective on the dynamics of democratic backsliding, the changing character of authoritarian threats, and the sources of democratic resiliency around the world. It also integrates the institutional, civil society, and international dimensions of contemporary challenges to democracy, while providing coverage of Western and Eastern Europe, South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the United States.
Reviews
‘This is an outstanding comparative analysis of the emergence and trajectory of democratic backsliding. Its expert authors, geographic breadth and comprehensive scope enlighten us not simply about particular regimes but about democracy’s intrinsic vulnerability. A perfect blend of empirical work and theoretical insight.’
Nancy Bermeo - Oxford University
‘The authors of this book explore the signs of weakness of democracy … they list, among others, the politicization of public employment, the betrayal of promises made by politics to the electorate, the manipulation of electoral laws and related processes. In short, we have deluded ourselves that democracies do not have pockets of totalitarianism within them, without listening to the warning of the young Tocqueville who, already in 1835, in the book he wrote after his trip, noted the possible drifts from democracy towards despotism.’
Sabino Cassese Source: Corriere della Sera
