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Populism and Democratic Backsliding
Essay Instructions:
Here is the directions for the final assignment.
Write a 2,000- to 2,500-word paper expanding upon the topic of a Critical Reflection of your choosing. You should approach and structure the paper as you would a research paper, using the sources you have selected for your annotated bibliography. I am looking for you to do a deeper dive into the Critical Reflection to produce your own analysis of the issue rather than simply describing it in greater detail. This will look different for each topic, so if you would like to talk through any ideas about how to develop your argument and frame your analysis please feel free to come talk to me in office hours and I’d be happy to discuss it with you.
Please use 1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, and double space the body of the paper.
Attached is the annotated bibliography you wrote for me a few weeks back.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask!! Thank you.
Essay Sample Content Preview:
Student’s Name
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Populism and Democratic Backsliding
Democratic backsliding is the process by which a country that is formally democratic begins to move away from its democratic institutions and norms (Cianetti and Hanley 66). This can take many different forms, such as the erosion of checks and balances, the suppression of opposition voices, or the manipulation of electoral processes. Democratic backsliding can occur gradually, over a period, and may be difficult to detect until it is well underway (Haggard and Kaufman 28). With time, the Post-war liberal order is slowly crumbling with data showing that countries in the European Union have lost significant strides in the pursuit of democratic ideals. Sitter and Bakke reckon that the democracy level in the EU has fallen to what they were in 1978 (9). Traditionally considered a bastion of democracy, many countries in Central and Eastern Europe have experienced significant erosion of democracy with Poland experiencing the most dramatic case of democratic backsliding between 2015 and 2016 (Milada 318). Ultimately, the examination of populism as a key catalyst for democratic backsliding can facilitate the adoption of measures to reverse the trend in some members states of the European Union
Background Information
It is essential to explore the importance of addressing democratic backsliding. First, democratic backsliding as a process threatens individual rights and freedoms. Democratic institutions and processes are designed to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals. If democratic backsliding occurs and these institutions and processes are weakened, the rights and freedoms of individuals may be threatened. Second, it is essential to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or group. If democratic backsliding occurs and democratic institutions and processes designed to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or group are weakened, a single person or group can gain the ability to make decisions that impact the entire country, without being held accountable by the public or by other branches of government.
Third, it is essential to prevent democratic backsliding in a country to promote political stability and avoid conflict. Democracies have institutions and processes that promote political stability and prevent conflicts between different groups within society. With democratic backsliding, political instability and conflicts increase as it becomes challenging to unite different groups in a country. Fourth, democratic institutions and processes are instrumental to the economic growth and development of a country. If these institutions and processes are weakened, the economy may suffer and economic growth may decline. As such, there is a need to address democratic backsliding.
Populism and democratic backsliding are increasingly becoming interlinked as populist politicians may use their power and popularity to undermine democratic institutions and processes. Populism is a political ideology that holds that the needs and will of the people should be the primary concern of the government. Populist politicians often gain power by appealing to the public's emotions and appealing to their sense of grievance or resentment. Once in power, populist politicians may use a variety of tactics to undermine democratic institutions and consolidate their power. The increasing rise in populism is trending toward the destruction of established democratic institutions and processes in most developed countries.
The Rise of Populism
Over time, populism has occupied an important part in the Americas and European politics. The phenomenon can be attributed to several factors. Notably, the rising levels of economic inequality and insecurity due to a myriad of factors have presented fertile ground for the rise of populist leaders. In most cases, populist politicians gain support by appealing to the public's economic anxieties and grievances. In the EU, there has been a rise in economic inequality and insecurity in recent years, as a result of factors such as globalization, technological change, and the 2008 financial crisis (Sitter and Bakke 23). This has created a fertile ground for populist politicians to gain support by promising to address these issues and protect the interests of the public. In America, the election of President Donald Trump was mainly due to his promise to address the declining economy of the United States. To this end, he appealed to the public by promising to prioritize American needs when engaging with the world.
In addition, populist politicians often gain support by appealing to the public's fears and anxieties about immigration and cultural change. In the EU, the influx of refugees and migrants from the Middle East and North Africa has contributed to a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, which has been exploited by populist politicians. In the Americas, the public hold fears immigration from South American countries and its implication on the social burden and unemployment in the country.
The ability of populist leaders to rise to power can be traced to their ability to present themselves as outsiders. Rafts of problems such as inequality and cultural changes have led to the population's disillusionment with the existing political establishment. In the European Union and the Americas, many citizens feel that the current political regimes in place have become distant and unresponsive to their needs. Against this backdrop, populist politicians rise to power by offering to pursue alternative policies. When rising to power, President Donald Trump marketed himself as an outsider who was taking over the Presidency to reverse the damages done to the country by politicians (Bonikowski 20).
It is essential to note that the rise of populist politicians to positions of power has been facilitated by the rise of social media. Populist politicians have been able to use social media to spread their message and gain support. Social media allows populist politicians to bypass traditional channels of communication and directly reach the public, which has made it easier for them to gain support.
Versatility of Populism
The potency of populism can be largely attributed to its versatility in the sense that it can be adapted to fit a wide range of political circumstances and goals. Populism often intersects with other political ideologies, such as nationalism and libertarianism. In most cases, populists draw on ideas from a variety of ideological traditions to construct a message that resonates with the public (Riedel 289). Notably, nationalism refers to an ideology that stresses the importance of national identity and unity. It often involves a belief in the superiority of one's nation and can lead to a focus on protecting and promoting the interests of one's own country, at the expense of others. Populists may appeal to nationalistic sentiments to rally support for their policies or may use nationalist rhetoric to appeal to the emotions and patriotism of the public.
In the same way, populist leaders leverage the intersection between po...
Professor’s Name
Course
Due Date
Populism and Democratic Backsliding
Democratic backsliding is the process by which a country that is formally democratic begins to move away from its democratic institutions and norms (Cianetti and Hanley 66). This can take many different forms, such as the erosion of checks and balances, the suppression of opposition voices, or the manipulation of electoral processes. Democratic backsliding can occur gradually, over a period, and may be difficult to detect until it is well underway (Haggard and Kaufman 28). With time, the Post-war liberal order is slowly crumbling with data showing that countries in the European Union have lost significant strides in the pursuit of democratic ideals. Sitter and Bakke reckon that the democracy level in the EU has fallen to what they were in 1978 (9). Traditionally considered a bastion of democracy, many countries in Central and Eastern Europe have experienced significant erosion of democracy with Poland experiencing the most dramatic case of democratic backsliding between 2015 and 2016 (Milada 318). Ultimately, the examination of populism as a key catalyst for democratic backsliding can facilitate the adoption of measures to reverse the trend in some members states of the European Union
Background Information
It is essential to explore the importance of addressing democratic backsliding. First, democratic backsliding as a process threatens individual rights and freedoms. Democratic institutions and processes are designed to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals. If democratic backsliding occurs and these institutions and processes are weakened, the rights and freedoms of individuals may be threatened. Second, it is essential to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or group. If democratic backsliding occurs and democratic institutions and processes designed to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or group are weakened, a single person or group can gain the ability to make decisions that impact the entire country, without being held accountable by the public or by other branches of government.
Third, it is essential to prevent democratic backsliding in a country to promote political stability and avoid conflict. Democracies have institutions and processes that promote political stability and prevent conflicts between different groups within society. With democratic backsliding, political instability and conflicts increase as it becomes challenging to unite different groups in a country. Fourth, democratic institutions and processes are instrumental to the economic growth and development of a country. If these institutions and processes are weakened, the economy may suffer and economic growth may decline. As such, there is a need to address democratic backsliding.
Populism and democratic backsliding are increasingly becoming interlinked as populist politicians may use their power and popularity to undermine democratic institutions and processes. Populism is a political ideology that holds that the needs and will of the people should be the primary concern of the government. Populist politicians often gain power by appealing to the public's emotions and appealing to their sense of grievance or resentment. Once in power, populist politicians may use a variety of tactics to undermine democratic institutions and consolidate their power. The increasing rise in populism is trending toward the destruction of established democratic institutions and processes in most developed countries.
The Rise of Populism
Over time, populism has occupied an important part in the Americas and European politics. The phenomenon can be attributed to several factors. Notably, the rising levels of economic inequality and insecurity due to a myriad of factors have presented fertile ground for the rise of populist leaders. In most cases, populist politicians gain support by appealing to the public's economic anxieties and grievances. In the EU, there has been a rise in economic inequality and insecurity in recent years, as a result of factors such as globalization, technological change, and the 2008 financial crisis (Sitter and Bakke 23). This has created a fertile ground for populist politicians to gain support by promising to address these issues and protect the interests of the public. In America, the election of President Donald Trump was mainly due to his promise to address the declining economy of the United States. To this end, he appealed to the public by promising to prioritize American needs when engaging with the world.
In addition, populist politicians often gain support by appealing to the public's fears and anxieties about immigration and cultural change. In the EU, the influx of refugees and migrants from the Middle East and North Africa has contributed to a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, which has been exploited by populist politicians. In the Americas, the public hold fears immigration from South American countries and its implication on the social burden and unemployment in the country.
The ability of populist leaders to rise to power can be traced to their ability to present themselves as outsiders. Rafts of problems such as inequality and cultural changes have led to the population's disillusionment with the existing political establishment. In the European Union and the Americas, many citizens feel that the current political regimes in place have become distant and unresponsive to their needs. Against this backdrop, populist politicians rise to power by offering to pursue alternative policies. When rising to power, President Donald Trump marketed himself as an outsider who was taking over the Presidency to reverse the damages done to the country by politicians (Bonikowski 20).
It is essential to note that the rise of populist politicians to positions of power has been facilitated by the rise of social media. Populist politicians have been able to use social media to spread their message and gain support. Social media allows populist politicians to bypass traditional channels of communication and directly reach the public, which has made it easier for them to gain support.
Versatility of Populism
The potency of populism can be largely attributed to its versatility in the sense that it can be adapted to fit a wide range of political circumstances and goals. Populism often intersects with other political ideologies, such as nationalism and libertarianism. In most cases, populists draw on ideas from a variety of ideological traditions to construct a message that resonates with the public (Riedel 289). Notably, nationalism refers to an ideology that stresses the importance of national identity and unity. It often involves a belief in the superiority of one's nation and can lead to a focus on protecting and promoting the interests of one's own country, at the expense of others. Populists may appeal to nationalistic sentiments to rally support for their policies or may use nationalist rhetoric to appeal to the emotions and patriotism of the public.
In the same way, populist leaders leverage the intersection between po...
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