The International Context of Democratic Backsliding
We know much about “how democracies die”: elites and masses become polarized, and norms of mutual toleration, forbearance, and institutional restraint erode. But why do elites feel free to undermine these guardrails of democracy? What are the sources of backsliding? Answers to these questions have focused on the impact of economic and cultural change, and on autocratic meddling. I consider another potential source of backsliding around the world: the impact of the reconfiguration of global politics after the Cold War and 9/11 on politics in the main prodemocratic actors that Samuel Huntington highlighted in his book The Third Wave: the United States, the European Union, and the Vatican. Today, the international context gives leaders in these global powers relatively weaker incentives to stand up for democracy, even in the face of aggressive meddling from Russia and China. Changes in international politics has left democracy with weaker ideational support in the global arena, potentially facilitating backsliding.
Date:
17 May 2023, 17:00 (Wednesday, 4th week, Trinity 2023)
Venue:
Manor Road Building, Manor Road OX1 3UQ
Venue Details:
Seminar Room A
Speaker:
David Samuels (Department of Political Science, University of Minnesota)
Organisers:
Prof. Giovanni Capoccia (Department of Politics and IR, University of Oxford),
Giovanni Capoccia (Department of Politics and IR, University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
giovanni.capoccia@politics.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Giovanni Capoccia (Department of Politics and IR, University of Oxford)
Part of:
"Advances in the analysis of democratic backsliding"
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Giovanni Capoccia
