arbiter
JournalsAccount

Pathways of Democratic Backsliding, Resistance, and (Partial) Recoveries

Rachel Beatty Riedl et al.

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science2024https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162251319909article
ABDC B
Weight
0.75

Abstract

We provide an analytical framework that identifies three distinct institutional pathways for democratic backsliding that culminate in executive aggrandizement: legislative capture, plebiscitary override, and executive power grabs. We also identify a fourth pathway of elite collusion that erodes democracy without necessarily concentrating powers in the executive. These four pathways reflect different combinations of ruling and opposition party strength, institutional legitimacy, and levels of popular support and political mobilization. The pathways also open and close different institutional and societal arenas where opposition forces can counter backsliding, and they create different opportunities, challenges, and dilemmas for democratic actors. The 15 case studies featured in this volume illustrate how backsliding occurs along these pathways, and how democratic actors achieved partial reversal in some cases. The cases also suggest focal points of resistance and institutional and programmatic reform that may be helpful to policymakers and advocates working to defend democracy.

14 citations

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162251319909

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{rachel2024,
  title        = {{Pathways of Democratic Backsliding, Resistance, and (Partial) Recoveries}},
  author       = {Rachel Beatty Riedl et al.},
  journal      = {Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science},
  year         = {2024},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162251319909},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Pathways of Democratic Backsliding, Resistance, and (Partial) Recoveries

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.75

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact1.00 × 0.4 = 0.40
M · momentum0.85 × 0.15 = 0.13
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.