by Carolyn Stephens | Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
In 2016, the populist Law and Justice party (PiS) of Poland gained a majority in the lower house of parliament without a coalition. The party consequently used their legislative power to adjust the judicial and electoral systems in their own favor. This legislation...
by ERIC RONALD SANGRET | Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Democratic backsliding is increasingly becoming a concern in Eastern Europe, with some countries being issued harsh warnings from the European Union (EU). In the last three years, Poland has seen gradual, but clear, signs of backsliding toward autocratic policies and...
by Lana Frazier | Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Throughout the end of the 20th century Poland made several significant changes including shifting from communism to democracy and joining the European Union. Proceeding 1989 Poland seemed to have finally taken a step in the right direction as they brought an end to...
by NAM SIK YOO | Mar 15, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Democracy has certainly been on the rise throughout the world during the past four decades. According to the Pew Research Center, 97 out of 167 countries (58%) with populations of at least 500,000 were democracies by the end of 2016. Only 21 out of 167 (13%) were...
by KENSHARRA DAVIS | Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
Is Poland Facing Democratic Backsliding? “Free courts, free elections, and free Poland,” are the words that many people chant as they protest in Warsaw [1]. In 2015, the presidential and parliamentary elections have caused Poland to flip upside down. Their...
