Loading...
Democracy Versus Democracy: The Populist Challenge to Liberal Democracy
Editors
Title / Series / Name
LSE Public Policy Review
Publication Volume
1
Publication Issue
1
Pages
Authors
Editors
Keywords
Liberalism
Liberal democracy
Democracy
Populism
Rule of law
Authoritarianism
Liberal democracy
Democracy
Populism
Rule of law
Authoritarianism
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/14157
Abstract
The current populist challenges in western liberal democracies should not be seen as evidence of their decline, but as a constituent part. The history of democracy shows us that such challenges enable democracy’s growth and evolution. As these modern conflicts and crises see populists seek to capitalise on the discontent of the people, it is evident that much of the conflict comes from tensions between the rule of law and majority rule. Elites seeking to preserve the liberal democratic system need to make their arguments in defence of the rule of law and democratic values, rather than assuming them to be self-evident. We should only become concerned over the fate of liberal democracy when the conflict moves from dialogue into physical violence, or as in Hungary, where the executive has dismantled counter-majoritarian checks. It is only then that the departure from democracy truly begins.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2020
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.31389/lseppr.2