Democratic Backsliding in Europe

Democracies across Europe are under pressure - primarily due to the gradual erosion of democratic norms, institutions, and procedures. This volume analyses the political causes, mechanisms, and consequences of democratic backsliding in 15 European countries, from Western Europe to the Western Balkans. In addition to country case studies, the volume provides comparative analyses that identify recurring patterns of democratic erosion. The contributions address institutional weakening, the rise of populist narratives, incomplete democratisation processes, and the strengthening of executive powers. Importantly, the diagnosis is only the first step: this volume also outlines concrete countermeasures at the national, European, and civil society levels.

Summary

Democracies across Europe are under pressure – primarily due to the gradual erosion of democratic norms, institutions, and procedures. This volume analyses the political causes, mechanisms, and consequences of democratic backsliding in 15 European countries, from Western Europe to the Western Balkans. In addition to country case studies, the volume provides comparative analyses that identify recurring patterns of democratic erosion. The contributions address institutional weakening, the rise of populist narratives, incomplete democratisation processes, and the strengthening of executive powers. Importantly, the diagnosis is only the first step: this volume also outlines concrete countermeasures at the national, European, and civil society levels.

Product details

• Assisted by: Melani Barlai (Editor), Ellen Bos (Editor), Peter Filzmaier (Editor), Christina Griessler (Editor), Christina Hainzl (Editor), Martin R. Herbers (Editor), Martin R Herbers et al (Editor)
• Publisher: Nomos
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 01.08.2025
• EAN: 9783756008599
• ISBN: 978-3-7560-0859-9
• No. of pages: 390
• Series: Andrássy Studien zur Europaforschung
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Comparative and international political science; Propaganda, austria, Civil Society, Denmark, France, Spain, Populism, EU, Europäische Union, Germany, NG-Rabatt, Nationalism, Sweden, Italy, freedom of expression, European Union, Netherlands, auseinandersetzen, Central and Eastern Europe, political participation, Post-Soviet, Western Balkan, freedom of participation, media system, dysfunction, democracies, de-facto-autocracies