Distinguishing Liberal Democracy’s Challengers

the recent surge of various challenges to democracy in Europe has presented scholars and policy makers with an empirical muddle. European democracy seems to be in jeopardy, and there is no shortage of culprits. In parts of the continent, far-left parties are wielding new influence; in other places,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of democracy Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 22 - 36
Main Author Pappas, Takis S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press 01.10.2016
Subjects
Common Agricultural Policy
Democracy
Equal rights
European integration
Human rights
Intellectuals
Liberalism
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Populism
Racism
Right wing politics
Rule of law
Xenophobia
Greece
Europe
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Summary:the recent surge of various challenges to democracy in Europe has presented scholars and policy makers with an empirical muddle. European democracy seems to be in jeopardy, and there is no shortage of culprits. In parts of the continent, far-left parties are wielding new influence; in other places, the far right has risen. Nativists thrive on growing xenophobia, and even racist and neo-Nazi forces are lurking. Amid the worry, it is crucial to be clear about two things. First, not all of democracy's challengers are the same, despite a promiscuous tendency to label them all "populists." Second, their rise is not traceable to a single cause, and hence should not be expected to prompt a single response. Parties and movements that do not belong to the same species should not to be treated as if they do. tHEY are dealing with a range of political phenomena that have their own distinct sets of causes, normative assumptions, and practical consequences.
ISSN:1086-3214
1045-5736
1086-3214
DOI:10.1353/jod.2016.0059