For quite some time now, the relevant literature has been diagnosing a crisis of liberal democracy. In the context of a broad discourse on the global rise of right-wing populist and extremist actors and movements—which Niall Ferguson has termed a “vibe shift”—there is frequent talk of “democratic backsliding.” This term refers to a process in which democratic institutions, rights, or norms are gradually weakened. A gradual deterioration in the quality of democracy is measured, for example, by criteria such as the curtailment of the separation of powers, the weakening of independent courts, restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression, the dismantling of mechanisms to hold the government accountable, or the erosion of informal democratic norms.

The Academy’s fellows are using this as an opportunity to take a closer look at their own countries of origin from a comparative perspective. Not least, the aim is also to discuss how democratic resilience can be strengthened overall.

The workshop will include an overview of the criteria as follows:

•             Political systems (democracy vs. autocracy and their constant struggles even in advanced democracies);

•             Party systems (multiparty, bipartisan systems or dominant party systems, ideological divisions, populism/nationalism in the light of the historic background);

•             Electoral systems and their role in determining electoral outcomes or voter behavior;

•             International factors and their effects on political dynamics;

•             Media systems and their role in framing propaganda networks;

•             Conflicts and their roots, as well as their impact on peacebuilding.