In person icon New and Old Challenges of Populism and Radicalism

Abstract

Roundtable Participants: Tim Bale (Queen Mary University London) Kathleen Blee (University of Pittsburgh) Tereza Capelos (University of Southampton) Andrej Zaslove (Nijmegen University) Democracy is under strain. Across the world, we are witnessing the erosion of democratic norms, the rise of authoritarian governance, and the mainstreaming of far-right ideologies. From Hungary to El Salvador to the United States under Trump, democratic backsliding has been marked by attacks on institutions, judicial independence, and the free press. This roundtable brings together leading academics to examine the causes and consequences of democratic decline, with a focus on what has changed with the rise of the far right and its role in reshaping political landscapes. By fostering an open conversation, this roundtable aims to deepen our understanding of extremism’s evolution and the potential for democratic renewal in an era of rising authoritarianism and polarization.