Resisting the Slide: Political Psychology of Democratic Resilience and Renewal

Abstract

This panel examines why some citizens and societies resist democratic erosion while others accept authoritarian alternatives. Bringing together normative, structural, and psychological perspectives, the papers explore how democratic commitment is shaped by inequality, procedural fairness, and leadership preferences. Together, they trace the fragile boundary between democratic loyalty and authoritarian temptation, showing how perceptions of exclusion, injustice, and crisis narratives can undermine — or sustain — democratic resilience.

Title	Details
Is There a Connection Between Social Devaluation and Support for Illiberal Populism?	View Paper Details
Ressentiment: The Emotional Engine of Populist Nationalism	View Paper Details
The (Un)Democratic Left Behind? The Procedural Preferences of Citizens Who Feel Unseen and Unheard	View Paper Details