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Foreground Liberalism, Background Nationalism: A Discursive‐institutionalist Account of EU Leverage and ‘Democratic Backsliding’ in East Central Europe

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  • James Dawson
  • Seán Hanley

Abstract

This article argues for a fresh approach to debates on democratic backsliding and European Union (EU) influence in East Central Europe (ECE), drawing on the discursive institutionalism of Vivien Schmidt. Underlying assumptions about backsliding in CEE largely reflect a set of ideas derived from the rational institutionalist and historical institutionalist schools. Moreover, the same theoretical assumptions were previously deployed to explain the apparent success of democratization and EU leverage in CEE. A discursive institutionalism perspective, stressing the role of actors and their discourses in making and unmaking institutions, suggests that democracy in CEE was always less secure than assumed. It also highlights the key role of liberal mainstream parties in embodying democratic institutions. Case studies of the liberal centre‐right in Bulgaria and social democrats in the Czech Republic highlight the way background ideas of ethnically exclusive titular states have increasingly impinged on foreground ideas of liberal pluralism.

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  • James Dawson & Seán Hanley, 2019. "Foreground Liberalism, Background Nationalism: A Discursive‐institutionalist Account of EU Leverage and ‘Democratic Backsliding’ in East Central Europe," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(4), pages 710-728, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:57:y:2019:i:4:p:710-728
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.12845
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bell, Stephen, 2011. "Do We Really Need a New ‘Constructivist Institutionalism’ to Explain Institutional Change?," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 41(4), pages 883-906, October.
    2. Tim Haughton, 2007. "When Does the EU Make a Difference? Conditionality and the Accession Process in Central and Eastern Europe," Political Studies Review, Political Studies Association, vol. 5(2), pages 233-246, May.
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    4. Schmidt, Vivien A., 2012. "A Curious Constructivism: A Response to Professor Bell," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(3), pages 705-713, July.
    5. Helmut K. Anheier & Béla Greskovits, 2015. "The Hollowing and Backsliding of Democracy in East Central Europe," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 6, pages 28-37, June.
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    7. Vachudova, Milada Anna, 2005. "Europe Undivided: Democracy, Leverage, and Integration After Communism," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199241194.
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    1. Lewkowicz, Jacek & Woźniak, Michał & Wrzesiński, Michał, 2022. "COVID-19 and erosion of democracy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).

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