Conference Recap: “Democracy, Illiberal Alternatives, and Culture Wars” Co-Hosted with Georgetown University

On Monday, May 19, 2025, the Political Science Department co-hosted a conference “Democracy, Illiberal Alternatives, and Culture Wars” in collaboration with Georgetown University. The event brought together prominent researchers from Central European University (CEU), Georgetown University, University of Notre Dame, University of Vienna, Brigham Young University, and other institutions.

The conference focused on contemporary challenges to liberal democratic institutions and norms, including political polarization, declining public trust, and the increasing presence of authoritarian tendencies in democratic systems. Participants examined recent developments in democratic quality, gender politics, nationalism, and populism, with a particular emphasis on how cultural conflicts affect political discourse and democratic processes.

Panels and Presentations

The program opened with welcoming remarks by Zsolt Enyedi.

Michael Coppedge (University of Notre Dame, V-Dem Institute) presented on “Illiberal Elites and the Erosion of Democracy and the Rule of Law,” followed by Andreas Schedler (CEU Democracy Institute) who discussed the normative implications of political polarization in his talk “Do We Have a Duty to Polarize?” Zsolt Enyedi then addressed “Types of Illiberalism: Elite and Mass Arguments Against Liberal Democracy.”

In the afternoon sessions, Paul D. Miller (Georgetown University) explored the relationship between religion and nationalism in “Christian Nationalism.” Andrea Krizsan (CEU Democracy Institute) examined “Gendered Paths to De-democratization,” focusing on how gender politics intersect with democratic erosion. Fabio Wolkenstein (University of Vienna) presented on “Anti-liberal Conservatism as a Way of Life,” analyzing ideological foundations of illiberal political movements.

Later presentations included Kirk Hawkins (Brigham Young University and CEU Democracy Institute) on the organizational and discursive strategies of populism, Erin Kristin Jenne (CEU) on the intersections between populism, nationalism, and religion, and Carsten Q. Schneider (CEU) who introduced methodological approaches to “Detecting Democratic Decline” through analysis of political leaders’ speeches.

The conference concluded with a reception that provided an opportunity for further scholarly exchange.

Conclusion

The conference offered a valuable forum for discussing empirical and theoretical research on the challenges facing contemporary democracies. By bringing together experts from diverse fields, it contributed to a deeper understanding of the processes that undermine liberal democratic norms and the role that cultural conflicts play in these developments.

Recordings of all presentations are available to view here: Conference Playlist on YouTube.

We extend our gratitude to all participants for their thoughtful contributions and engagement.

Image credit: CEU / Elena Azzalini