Democracy is undergoing a period of profound transformation. Recent findings from leading global datasets, including the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Democracy Index, Freedom House, and the International IDEA Global State of Democracy Indices, indicate that many countries have experienced democratic decline, institutional erosion, and increasing autocratic tendencies over the past decade. Although electoral processes continue to operate in many states, concerns have intensified regarding executive concentration of power, declining judicial independence, restrictions on civil liberties, media polarization, weakening legislative oversight, and shrinking civic space.
This panel examines the emerging autocratic curve within democratic systems through comparative, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based perspectives. It seeks to understand how democracies gradually experience institutional weakening while maintaining formal democratic procedures. Drawing upon cross-national evidence from V-Dem, the EIU Democracy Index, Freedom House, and other comparative governance indicators, the panel encourages research that explains the drivers, patterns, and consequences of democratic backsliding across different political systems and regions.
The panel welcomes theoretical, empirical, historical, comparative, and policy-oriented contributions addressing democratic resilience, populism, constitutional change, electoral integrity, executive dominance, judicial independence, digital governance, artificial intelligence and democracy, misinformation, political polarization, civil society, media freedom, identity politics, democratic accountability, and the influence of domestic and international actors on democratic governance. Studies employing qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, large-N, or comparative case-study approaches are particularly encouraged.
Special attention will be given to comparative analyses from Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, North America, and the Indo-Pacific, allowing participants to identify both common trends and region-specific trajectories. Papers utilizing global democracy datasets, public opinion surveys, governance indicators, and innovative methodological approaches are especially welcome.
By bringing together scholars from political science, comparative politics, international relations, public policy, constitutional law, political economy, sociology, and area studies, this panel aims to advance theoretical debates and generate evidence-based policy recommendations for strengthening democratic institutions, protecting constitutional governance, enhancing institutional accountability, and reinforcing democratic resilience in an era of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and democratic contestation.