Unpacking the Backslider’s Toolkit: Lessons for Democratic Resilience

This panel explores the strategies employed by democratic backsliders at three levels of generality: first, globally, with an analysis of the “backslider’s toolkit,” detailing tactics used to undermine democratic institutions; second, at the regional context including an in-depth discussion of the Asian context, identifying regional trends and unique dynamics; and third, specifically focusing on the South Korean experience with backsliding as well as its reversal. The panel will also discuss takeaways for constitutional design, emphasizing innovations that can safeguard democracy against the threat of backsliders, such as the use of time rules and how to optimize government constraints while empowering government to deliver on policy. Together, these presentations provide both a diagnostic framework for understanding backsliding and actionable strategies for democratic resilience.