Nexus Dialogues: Democratic backsliding: Causes, consequences, and countermeasures

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Democracy is in retreat around the world. There are many causes for this backsliding but a common factor in most cases is that political and social elites are violating, or at least cease to uphold, democratic norms. The consequences of democratic backsliding are terrifying for vulnerable individuals and groups, but they also affect people and groups who may have felt secure in the past. Democratic backsliding is difficult to reverse because rebuilding of institutions is far more difficult than their destruction. There are, however, some actions that individuals can take to push back against the undermining of democracy, although historical case studies suggest that arresting backsliding and restoring democracy requires elite involvement and strong leadership.