Program Overview

Seminar “Democratic erosion and the rise of authoritarianism in Europe”

The concept of democratic backsliding has been used to characterize the processes of degradation of the quality of democracy among European Union member states. This seminar aims to analyze the present in light of authoritarian and totalitarian experiences that have affected democracies in Europe and beyond.

Program

The seminar program includes the following sessions:

• “Fragmentation and rise of populism in Europe” by Thierry Chopin
• “The Problem with 'Misinformation'” by Quassim Cassam
• “What can citizen deliberation mechanisms do in the context of democratic erosion? » by Aliénor Ballangé
• “The Two Crises of Democracy” by Rainer Forst
• “The End of an Age of Democracy in Europe: Confronting the Present” by Martin Conway
• “The Enraged Twenty. At the sources of the current political crisis » by Carlo Invernizzi
• “Why appeasing autocrats poisons the European Union” by Daniel Kelemen

Session Details

• “Fragmentation and rise of populism in Europe” by Thierry Chopin: This session discusses the rise of populism in Europe, with populist parties now holding over 30% of seats in national parliaments.
• “The Problem with 'Misinformation'” by Quassim Cassam: This session questions the central role given to misinformation in explaining political events such as the Brexit referendum and the 2016 US presidential election.
• “What can citizen deliberation mechanisms do in the context of democratic erosion? » by Aliénor Ballangé: This session explores the potential of citizen deliberation mechanisms in the context of democratic erosion.
• “The Two Crises of Democracy” by Rainer Forst: This session analyzes the crises facing democracy, including the erosion of trust in institutions and the rise of authoritarianism.
• “The End of an Age of Democracy in Europe: Confronting the Present” by Martin Conway: This session reflects on the current state of democracy in Europe and the challenges it faces.
• “The Enraged Twenty. At the sources of the current political crisis” by Carlo Invernizzi: This session examines the roots of the current political crisis, including the rise of nationalism and the erosion of democratic values.
• “Why appeasing autocrats poisons the European Union” by Daniel Kelemen: This session discusses the dangers of appeasing authoritarian leaders and the impact on the European Union.

Organization

The seminar is organized by Céline Spector and Laurent Warlouzet, with sessions taking place at Sorbonne University.

Research Areas

The seminar covers research areas including:

• Democratic backsliding and authoritarianism
• Populism and nationalism
• Misinformation and its impact on democracy
• Citizen deliberation and democratic participation
• The future of democracy in Europe

Conclusion

The seminar “Democratic erosion and the rise of authoritarianism in Europe” provides a platform for discussing the challenges facing democracy in Europe and beyond. Through a series of sessions and discussions, the seminar aims to analyze the present state of democracy and explore potential solutions to the crises it faces.