Restoring the Rule of Law Post Backsliding in a European Context

Restoring the Rule of Law Post Backsliding in a European Context Laurent Pech, Professor of Law, University College Dublin Colloque DemoCIS | Analysis of Illiberal Regimes. Deciphering Democratic Deconsolidation This international conference addresses one of the most pressing challenges to contemporary democracy: the rise of illiberal regimes and the erosion of democratic institutions in established democracies. Drawing on comparative perspectives from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia, the conference examines how autocratic leaders systematically capture state institutions, dismantle the rule of law, erode separation of powers, and undermine fundamental rights — often through ostensibly legal means. The conference is structured around four thematic panels. The first panel analyzes how illiberal actors access and colonize democratic institutions, exploring the global autocratization trend, the influence of far-right movements, and the propagation of illiberal ideology. The second panel investigates the dismantling of the rule of law through the expansion of executive power, the subjection of legislative bodies, and the capture of judicial independence. The third panel examines the denaturation of human rights protections, focusing on attacks against civil society, academic freedom, and the rights of non-nationals. The final panel explores potential pathways for resistance and democratic restoration, including European mechanisms for rule of law enforcement, American institutional resilience, and the role of technology in both enabling and countering authoritarian drift. Through case studies from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Romania, the United States, Argentina, El Salvador, Turkey, Israel, and India, the conference brings together leading scholars and practitioners to advance our understanding of democratic deconsolidation and to identify strategies for defending liberal democratic values and institutions in an age of authoritarian resurgence.