CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Heckhausen, Anna Rachel |
|---|---|
| Title | Countering Illiberalism? How Public Perceptions Shape the Effectiveness of Militant Democracy Against the German AfD |
| Summary | A century after the rise of fascism in Europe, the world is again witnessing a surge of anti-democratic movements which challenge the foundations of liberal democracy. These developments have generated renewed interest in the concept of militant democracy (MD) – intolerant measures enacted by the state against supposedly anti-democratic parties to protect democratic regimes from internal threats. However, debates around MD are dominated by the paradox of democratic self-injury where attempts to safeguard democracy may end up eroding the very principles they are meant to protect. This thesis examines the effectiveness of militant democracy measures, focussing on the public’s perception of MD. To be effective, militant democracy needs to reduce support for an anti-democratic party while maintaining high support for the remaining political system and institutions. Targeted parties can be expected to intervene in this process by discrediting MD and its proponents as anti-democratic. This study investigates such influences in the German context. Using a randomized survey experiment with 605 German citizens, the study tests how exposure to MD-related debates—both neutral and critical—affects attitudes toward the right-wing populist party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and general support for liberal democracy. The results show no statistically significant effects of MD measures on support for the AfD or regime performance and institutions. However, when framed by the AfD, a potential party ban significantly decreases support for the democratic regime. These findings suggest that supporters of MD measures must be mindful of potential backlash effects and improve communication strategies to counteract opposing frames. Ultimately, a multifaceted approach that balances measures by various actors is recommended to protect democratic values effectively. |
| Supervisor | Schneider, Carsten Q. |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/heckhausen_anna.pdf |
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