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 NARMEEN MUNDH | Mar 13, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
The issue of democratic backsliding in certain EU countries has been the topic of discussion and increasing concern worldwide. Hungary tops this list due to the rapid introduction and implementation of seemingly autocratic practices in a country where democracy...
by Sam Wieske | Mar 13, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
A few decades ago, Turkey was the poster-boy of a democracy in the Islamic world. Fast forward to present day and Turkey is far from being a paragon of democracy, in light of the recent coup and referendum. Most scholars define Turkey’s current trend as “democratic...
by JULIA NICOLE ROBINSON | Mar 12, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles
The recent referendum passed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey will lead to long term democratic backsliding. The redistribution of power to the executive office, the dissolution of checks and balances of higher power, and the change of procedure for...