Demokracja nieliberalna jako projekt polityczny

Abstract

Illiberal democracy seems to be one of the most important topics for political scientists studying the process of post­communist democratisation. It may be – and often has been – considered as a real alternative for models of democracy developing in the Western political hemisphere. This article focuses on the sources of crisis of liberal democracy and possible political consequences of its replacing by an illiberal vision of political system. Author hypothesises that making illiberal democracy real requires the reinterpretation of main democratic principles, such as representation or separation of powers, as well as abandoning of political consensus, present in consolidated West European democracies after the Second World War, and, in effect, fundamental change of patterns of political behaviour. The question of the future of illiberal democracy is also posed and three possible scenarios are considered.

Elitist Democracy as the Root of Populist Counter-Revolution: A Theoretical Approach

“…Moreover, what seems to make this issue even more problematic is a number of secondary or supplementary concepts emerging in this debate, which are also interpreted ambiguously. Categories that can be mentioned in this context include majoritarian democracy (Ciszewski, 2018), illiberal democracy (Antoszewski, 2018b;Zakaria, 2004), populist democracy, reverse democratization, Potemkin democracy, and elected autocracy (Dawson & Hanley, 2016, pp. 20-34;Ágh, 2015, p. 4;Bureš & Květina, 2018, p. 95).…”

“…44-48;Eatwell & Goodwin, 2020, pp. 273--295) as well as attempts to implement the postulates of majoritarian or illiberal democracy (Antoszewski, 2018b) have made the category again the subject of intense discussions among political scientists.…”

Non-Liberal Democracy and the Possibilities of Its Consolidation

“…These elements are conducive to the process of the consolidation of nonliberal democracy. Their absence, in turn, results in a retreat from liberal democracy and the phenomenon in which a "non-liberal revolution at the ballot boxes could be replaced by a liberal counterrevolution, with all its negative consequences" (Antoszewski, 2018).…”

“…It is also likely that the system will be reformulated towards authoritarianism and deviate from liberal democracy. It may turn out that non-liberal democracy will prevail (Antoszewski, 2018). The high level of support for non-liberal rules, the weakness of the opposition (which is divided and unable to create an alternative to non-liberal democracy) and the lack of social mobilisation, as well as the turnover of economic, political and intelligentsia elites by offering promotion opportunities to those previously on the margins of society, enable the consolidation of the principles of non-liberal democracy.…”

Law and Lawyers vs “Political Turn” and the “Return of Political Philosophy”

“…The beginning of the 21 st century seems to be one of such difficult moments. On the one hand, there is an intensification of reflection on the political order of contemporary states, resulting from the phenomena described by some as a crisis of liberal democracy 13 , by others as a temporary deficiency 14 resulting from the temporary and exhaustion of the formula of democracy, inherent for this system 15 , and by another people as an attempt to build a non-liberal democracy 16 . On the other hand, trust in the justice system itself is also declining in many countries 17 , although after closer examination of the data, this globally negative assessment turns out to be less clear.…”