De-democratization Processes in Poland in 2015–23

The crisis of liberal democracy is clearly visible today, manifesting itself, inter alia, in the declining interest of citizens in participating in elections; the disappearance, or at least weakening, of the traditional axis of social conflict between labour and capital; the growing importance of populism; attacks on democratic institutions; and the efforts of leaders in many countries to centralize power. Across the globe, anti-establishment, anti-system, anti-elite and populist sentiments are on the rise, accompanied by the increasing prominence of anti-democratic parties. This volume aims to identify universal mechanisms of de-democratization using the example of Poland, by searching for reliable indicators of these processes. The authors examine and analyse the weakening of democratic institutions, the limitation of civil liberties, and the growth of authoritarian tendencies and political polarization, seeking out indicators of de-democratization phenomena in the legal-institutional, political-social and economic spheres, while also looking into actions that strengthen and protect de-democratization, which take place in the symbolic, social, political and economic domains.

The authors thus seek to expand the existing analyses of de-democratization processes in a volume which will be of great use to those researching and studying democracy, the rule of law, contemporary politics and de-democratization in Poland and beyond.