The Essence and Characteristic Features of Modern Democratic Backsliding

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of current trends, causes, and factors of modern democratic backsliding. It has been proven that the main features of democratic regression include the strengthening of the executive branch, restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, destruction of the system of checks and balances, manipulation of the electoral process, a decline in judicial independence, political populism, a decline in public trust and the systematic violation of human rights. The main scientific approaches and theories that study the mechanisms and patterns of democratic institutional decline are analyzed. Democratic backsliding is defined as a complex of deliberate actions carried out by political leaders to take control of government bodies, limit political competition, maintain power and destroy the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democratic values.  

The role of populism in the process of limiting political competition, reducing the effectiveness of democratic institutions, deteriorating the quality of political decisions, deepening political polarization and social divisions is examined. The characteristic features and mechanisms of democratic backsliding and the dismantling of the principles, values, and norms of liberal democracy in Hungary are considered. It has been established that changes in constitutional norms by political leaders, the expansion of executive powers, unlimited control over state institutions and the electoral process has a direct impact on the violation of democratic procedures and the decline in the quality of public administration. It is proved that a part of society may approve democratic regression in exchange for guarantees of stability, security, support for conservative values, socio-economic well-being and the preservation of power for representatives of the political force with which they associate themselves.