Democracy Versus Democracy: The Populist Challenge to Liberal Democracy
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Authors
Ignatieff, MichaelPublisher
LSE PressType
Journal articleTitle / Series / Name
LSE Public Policy ReviewPublication Volume
1Publication Issue
1Date
2020
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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.identifiers
10.31389/lseppr.2ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.31389/lseppr.2
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