Abstract
This thesis explores the current state of liberal democracy, which is recognized to be under pressure globally. Although crises seem to have always been inherent to democracy, concerns about the decline of democracy have grown in recent years due to the global rise of populism and increasing polarization. A thematic literature review is conducted in order to explore the inherent vulnerabilities of liberal democracies, and how these vulnerabilities have manifested in recent times. Specifically, an attempt is made to answer the following question: How are populist tendencies and polarization interrelated in contemporary liberal democracies, and what are means by which modern liberal democracies can sustain themselves in accordance with their own principles? The thesis is structured into three chapters, each addressing key concepts and developments related to "democracy" and "liberal democracy," "populism," and "polarization." In the conclusion, the relationship between the discussed theories and empirical data is explored. The first part of the conclusion answers the question of to what extent populism and polarization can theoretically be viewed as legitimate and even healthy phenomena within a liberal democracy, and for what reasons they might be perceived as threats. The second part of the conclusion examines the developments that have caused modern liberal democracies to differ fundamentally from earlier forms of democracy and explores how these changes are linked to the perceived causes of contemporary populism and polarization trends. That way a conclusion can be made on how inherent vulnerabilities of liberal democracies play out in recent times. In response, alternative courses of action are proposed in the final part of the conclusion.It becomes evident that the inherent tensions within liberal democracies, particularly around principles such as popular sovereignty and the balance between participation and representation or delegation, are today manifesting specifically around issues like globalization and political pluralism. Existing democratic, representative, parliamentary, and party-political structures no longer meet the changed expectations and needs of citizens in this era. The particular challenge for modern liberal democracy lies in establishing a democratic system that, on the one hand, pays closer attention to the particularity of individuals, and on the other hand, reorganizes a common world that centralizes the meaning of the common good. The shortcomings of modern liberal democracies point towards deliberative forms of democracy as a solution, and towards further expanding democracy at local, national, and global levels.
| Date of Award | 25 Aug 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Supervisor | Fernando Suárez Müller (Supervisor) & J. M. (Mienke) van der Brug (Supervisor) |