Deep Polarization and Autocratization

Abstract

Polarization used to be considered as natural in democracies. Elections were thought to resemble ‘civil wars’ but in a civilized environment. That is, there are adversaries fighting against each other whilst the elections henceforth should imply a new 'peace treaty' for the next four of five years to come. However, what recently interests policitians as well as policymakers, is whether polarization can become unhealthy. Could polarization even lead to autocratization? What are the problems of polarization in a democracy, and where is its breaking point? These were the main questions that panelists of Budapest Forum which convened in September 2022...