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Pathways of Democratic Backsliding, Resistance, and (Partial) Recoveries
Research

Pathways of Democratic Backsliding, Resistance, and (Partial) Recoveries

Democratic backsliding happens under diverse circumstances, and because it evolves in different ways, pro-democratic coalitions and actors are presented with different challenges and means to resist or overcome democratic decay. 

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By Rachel Beatty Riedl, Jennifer McCoy, Kenneth Roberts, Murat Somer
Published on Mar 21, 2025
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Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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About the Authors

Rachel Beatty Riedl

Jennifer McCoy

Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Jennifer McCoy is a nonresident scholar in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, where she focuses on political polarization and democratic resilience in the U.S. and around the world.

Kenneth Roberts

Murat Somer

Murat Somer is a professor of political science at Koç University in Istanbul and an expert on political polarization, religious and secular politics, ethnic conflict, autocratization, and democratization in Turkey and around the world.

Authors

Rachel Beatty Riedl
Jennifer McCoy
Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Jennifer McCoy
Kenneth Roberts
Murat Somer

Murat Somer is a professor of political science at Koç University in Istanbul and an expert on political polarization, religious and secular politics, ethnic conflict, autocratization, and democratization in Turkey and around the world.

Murat Somer
DemocracyPolitical Reform

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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