Why Voters Embrace Eroding Democracies: Understanding the Paradox of Democratic Backsliding

Professor Andrés Velasco, Dean of the School of Public Policy, has published a new commentary in Project Syndicate titled The Paradox of Democratic Backsliding, offering a timely analysis of a puzzling trend in global politics.

In the article, Dean Velasco explores why voters in many countries continue to support leaders who undermine democratic norms, limit civil liberties, and weaken independent institutions. Drawing on examples from India, Mexico, Brazil, and other nations, he shows how leaders can consolidate power and sideline checks and balances while maintaining strong popular support.

The piece examines the tension between liberal democratic institutions and the preferences of the majority. Independent courts, regulators, and bureaucracies are designed to safeguard individual rights and prevent majoritarian excesses, but when they frequently block policies that voters favour, frustration can grow. Populist leaders who present themselves as champions of “the people” against these elites often gain approval, even as democratic practices erode.

Dean Velasco also highlights the role of affective polarization: citizens’ strong loyalty to leaders they admire, combined with disdain for elites they distrust, can help explain this paradoxical support. He emphasises that such trends reflect dissatisfaction with those running democratic institutions, rather than a rejection of democracy itself. Making institutions more transparent, accountable, and responsive to citizens’ concerns can address this tension while safeguarding democratic principles.

Read the full article on Project Syndicate.