Democratic Backsliding in Poland

Why Has Poland Gone to the Dark Side

Author: Filip Ilkowski, Anna Wierzchowska, Marta Jas-Koziarkiewicz, Ewa Maria Marciniak, Agnieszka K. Cianciara, Adam Szymanski, Lukasz Zamecki, Renata Mienkowska and Anna Paczesniak

The book provides analysis of causes of democratic backsliding in Poland. The authors propose to take a closer look at historical and identity aspects, economic factors, social and political polarization, institutions, parties and role of external factors (e.g. European Union) – as issues strongly contributing to this process.

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Summary

Description

According to various independent research institutions Poland is now seen as the fastest destabilizing democracy. After 1989, Poland was often presented in the international public discourse as an example of the successful political and economic transition away from Communism. However, since 2015, Poland has been associated with terminologies not previously linked with this country: “nationalism”, “populism” or “breaking rule of law”. The authors of the book analyze the reasons for democratic backsliding in Poland in a more comprehensive and systematic manner. Special attention is paid to political polarization, which is a substantial threat to democracy. This volume shows the de-democratization of Poland from various perspectives, cultural and historical, political institutions, party politics, and media. Can the liberal model of of democracy remain intact with Poland, and what role does the EU play in all of this?. The book should be an required reading not only for scholars and students studying democratic decline, but also for everybody who wants to understand what is happening currently in Poland.

Critic Reviews

"The book is a much need addition to the literature on autocratization. The authors provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the causes of Poland's recent democratic decline that spans from long-term factors such as history, political culture, and ideology, to the recent institutional, political, and social causes of autocratization highlighting, in particular, the distortions in the process of democratic consolidation post-1989. It is an essential reading for understanding the current state of Polish democracy."

About the Author

Łukasz Zamęcki is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw.

Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene is Political scientist and sociologist, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw.

Adam Szymański is Political scientist, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw.