Definition
Democratic backsliding is the gradual erosion of democratic institutions, norms, and practices within a nominally democratic system. Unlike a coup or revolution, backsliding occurs incrementally — through legal changes, institutional capture, media consolidation, and the weakening of checks on executive power — often while maintaining the formal appearance of democracy.
Why It Matters for the Newsletter
The German Marshall Fund identifies Hungary as a “key test case for democratic backsliding within the West.” The concept is analytically important because it describes a process that is difficult to reverse once advanced — institutions that have been captured don’t easily snap back even if a new government takes power. The April 2026 Hungarian election is a live experiment in whether backsliding can be electorally reversed.
Evidence & Examples
- Hungary under Viktor Orban: classified as “partly free” by Freedom House and “electoral autocracy” by V-Dem Institute after systematic institutional changes since 2010 Five things to know about Hungary’s election
- The EU has used conditional funding (freezing billions in transfers) as leverage against Hungary’s backsliding, with mixed results
Tensions & Counterarguments
- Is backsliding reversible through elections, or does institutional capture make it self-perpetuating?
- The EU’s conditional-funding approach assumes economic leverage can restore democratic norms. If Orban survives the 2026 election despite frozen funds, this strategy looks ineffective.
- Some argue backsliding is a misnomer — it implies a previous democratic baseline that may not have been as robust as assumed.
Related Concepts
- Illiberal Democracy — the political model that results from successful backsliding
- Institutional Capture — the mechanism through which backsliding operates
- State Power Without Accountability — the end-state of unchecked backsliding