IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cog/poango/v8y2020i4p473-484.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Populism in Power and Democracy: Democratic Decay and Resilience in the Czech Republic (2013–2020)

Author

Listed:
  • Petra Guasti

    (Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Populism and technocracy reject vertical accountability and horizontal accountability. Populism and technocracy can combine to form ‘technocratic populism.’ The study assesses the extent to which democratic decay can be traced to the actions of technocratic populists as opposed to institutional factors, civil society, fragmentation and polarization. The main findings of this article are that technocratic populism has illiberal tendencies expressed best in its efforts at executive aggrandizement (cf. Bermeo, 2016). Without an effective bulwark against democratic erosion (cf. Bernhard, 2015), technocratic populism tends to undermine electoral competition (vertical accountability), judiciary independence, legislative oversight (horizontal accountability), and freedom of the press (diagonal accountability). The most effective checks on technocratic populist in power, this study finds, are the courts, free media, and civil society. This article highlights the mechanisms of democratic decay and democratic resilience beyond electoral politics. It indicates that a combination of institutional veto points and civil society agency is necessary to prevent democratic erosion (cf. Weyland, 2020). While active civil society can prevent democratic erosion, it cannot reverse it. Ultimately, the future of liberal democracy depends on the people’s willingness to defend it in the streets AND at the ballot box.

Suggested Citation

  • Petra Guasti, 2020. "Populism in Power and Democracy: Democratic Decay and Resilience in the Czech Republic (2013–2020)," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 473-484.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v8:y:2020:i:4:p:473-484
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.v8i4.3420
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/3420
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.17645/pag.v8i4.3420?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antonino Castaldo & Luca Verzichelli, 2020. "Technocratic Populism in Italy after Berlusconi: The Trendsetter and his Disciples," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 485-495.
    2. Robert A. Huber & Christian H. Schimpf, 2017. "On the Distinct Effects of Left-Wing and Right-Wing Populism on Democratic Quality," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 146-165.
    3. David Aprasidze & David S. Siroky, 2020. "Technocratic Populism in Hybrid Regimes: Georgia on My Mind and in My Pocket," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 580-589.
    4. Antonino Castaldo & Luca Verzichelli, 2020. "Technocratic Populism in Italy after Berlusconi: The Trendsetter and his Disciples," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 485-495.
    5. Robert A. Huber & Christian H. Schimpf, 2017. "On the Distinct Effects of Left-Wing and Right-Wing Populism on Democratic Quality," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 146-165.
    6. Caramani, Daniele, 2017. "Will vs. Reason: The Populist and Technocratic Forms of Political Representation and Their Critique to Party Government," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 111(1), pages 54-67, February.
    7. Lenka Buštíková & Pavol Baboš, 2020. "Best in Covid: Populists in the Time of Pandemic," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 496-508.
    8. David Aprasidze & David S. Siroky, 2020. "Technocratic Populism in Hybrid Regimes: Georgia on My Mind and in My Pocket," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 580-589.
    9. Lenka Bustikova & Petra Guasti, 2017. "The Illiberal Turn or Swerve in Central Europe?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 166-176.
    10. Michel Perottino & Petra Guasti, 2020. "Technocratic Populism à la Française? The Roots and Mechanisms of Emmanuel Macron’s Success," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 545-555.
    11. Lenka Bustikova & Petra Guasti, 2017. "The Illiberal Turn or Swerve in Central Europe?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 166-176.
    12. Michel Perottino & Petra Guasti, 2020. "Technocratic Populism à la Française? The Roots and Mechanisms of Emmanuel Macron’s Success," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 545-555.
    13. Lenka Buštíková & Pavol Baboš, 2020. "Best in Covid: Populists in the Time of Pandemic," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 496-508.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. David Aprasidze & David S. Siroky, 2020. "Technocratic Populism in Hybrid Regimes: Georgia on My Mind and in My Pocket," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 580-589.
    2. Petra Guasti & Lenka Buštíková, 2020. "A Marriage of Convenience: Responsive Populists and Responsible Experts," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 468-472.
    3. Maria Snegovaya, 2020. "Different Strokes for Different Folks: Who Votes for Technocratic Parties?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 556-567.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Petra Guasti & Lenka Buštíková, 2020. "A Marriage of Convenience: Responsive Populists and Responsible Experts," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 468-472.
    2. Petra Guasti, 2020. "Populism in Power and Democracy: Democratic Decay and Resilience in the Czech Republic (2013–2020)," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 473-484.
    3. Lenka Buštíková & Pavol Baboš, 2020. "Best in Covid: Populists in the Time of Pandemic," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 496-508.
    4. Lenka Buštíková & Pavol Baboš, 2020. "Best in Covid: Populists in the Time of Pandemic," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 496-508.
    5. Petra Guasti & Lenka Buštíková, 2020. "A Marriage of Convenience: Responsive Populists and Responsible Experts," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 468-472.
    6. Lars Rensmann & Sarah L. de Lange & Stefan Couperus, 2017. "Editorial to the Issue on Populism and the Remaking of (Il)Liberal Democracy in Europe," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 106-111.
    7. Marion Reiser & Jörg Hebenstreit, 2020. "Populism versus Technocracy? Populist Responses to the Technocratic Nature of the EU," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 568-579.
    8. Maria Snegovaya, 2020. "Different Strokes for Different Folks: Who Votes for Technocratic Parties?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 556-567.
    9. Maria Snegovaya, 2020. "Different Strokes for Different Folks: Who Votes for Technocratic Parties?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 556-567.
    10. Marion Reiser & Jörg Hebenstreit, 2020. "Populism versus Technocracy? Populist Responses to the Technocratic Nature of the EU," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 568-579.
    11. Kovanic, Martin & Steuer, Max, 2023. "Fighting against COVID-19: With or without politics?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    12. Shlomo Yedidia Tarba & Mohammad Faisal Ahammad & Ilan Alon & Jeremy Clegg & Ilan Vertinsky, 2024. "Protectionism in the International Business: Editorial to the Focused Issue," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 64(2), pages 337-341, April.
    13. Rodrigo Barrenechea & Eduardo Dargent, 2020. "Populists and Technocrats in Latin America: Conflict, Cohabitation, and Cooperation," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 509-519.
    14. Giebler, Heiko & Werner, Annika, 2020. "Cure, Poison or Placebo? The Consequences of Populist and Radical Party Success for Representative Democracy," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 56(3), pages 293-306.
    15. Lars Rensmann & Sarah L. de Lange & Stefan Couperus, 2017. "Editorial to the Issue on Populism and the Remaking of (Il)Liberal Democracy in Europe," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 106-111.
    16. Ľubomír Zvada, 2022. "On Gender and Illiberalism: Lessons From Slovak Parliamentary Debates," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(4), pages 108-120.
    17. Jacek Lewkowicz & Rafał Woźniak, 2024. "Pandemic Misery Index: How to Overcome the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 172(3), pages 925-946, April.
    18. Anna M. Meyerrose, 2024. "Building strong executives and weak institutions: How European integration contributes to democratic backsliding," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 307-343, April.
    19. Miklós Rosta & László Tóth, 2021. "Is there a demand for autocracies in Europe? Comparing the attitudes of Hungarian and Italian university students toward liberal democratic values inspired by János Kornai," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 187(1), pages 217-233, April.
    20. Natascha Zaun & Ariadna Ripoll Servent, 2023. "Perpetuating Crisis as a Supply Strategy: The Role of (Nativist) Populist Governments in EU Policymaking on Refugee Distribution," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 653-672, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v8:y:2020:i:4:p:473-484. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: António Vieira or IT Department (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cogitatiopress.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.