CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Klapal, Petr |
|---|---|
| Title | Democratic Backsliding and Populism in Central Europe |
| Summary | This thesis conducts a rigorous examination of democratic backsliding and the surge of populism within Central European states, with particular focus on Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The research identifies and analyses the mechanisms through which populist actors systematically erode pillars of liberal democracy – most notably the independence of the judiciary, the plurality of the media, and the protection of civil liberties. The thesis used the Most Similar Systems Design to compare countries with similar institutional and historical backgrounds, but different dominant populist actors. A key contribution of this work lies in its nuanced assessment of the heterogeneity of democratic backsliding across different national settings. The thesis demonstrates that, while populist strategies often share core characteristics – such as anti-establishment rhetoric and the instrumentalization of nationalist sentiment – their impact is shaped by country-specific historical legacies, institutional frameworks, and the resilience of civil society. The research advances the scholarly debate by demonstrating that democratic erosion is neither uniform nor inevitable, but contingent upon the complex interplay of these contextual variables. Furthermore, the thesis highlights the implications of persistent populist governance for the long-term stability and integrity of democratic institutions in Central Europe. By documenting both the vulnerabilities and sources of resilience within these democracies, the study provides actionable insights for policymakers, academics, and civil society actors. The chapters of the text gradually discuss theoretical approaches to populism and democratic backsliding, research methodology, comparative analysis of the monitored countries, and a final summary that responds to the research question, highlights the key findings and proposes some directions for future research. |
| Supervisor | Enyedi, Zsolt |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/klapal_petr.pdf |
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