Game Theory and Mathematical Economics Research Seminar
Lecturer:
Prof. Noam Gidron (Hebrew University)
Title:
Who Supports Democratic Backsliding? Evidence from Israel
Abstract:
Concerns over democratic backsliding have proliferated recently, as elected politicians have sought to undermine democratic checks and balances. This study examines the underpinnings of public support for democratic backsliding, delineating five theoretical accounts: personalistic leadership, affective polarization, populism, majoritarianism and entanglement with the law. We test the explanatory power of these accounts within the Israeli context, leveraging panel survey data collected before and after the government announced its plan to curtail the courts. Results suggest that support for the plan is strongly associated with dislike of partisan opponentsand attachment to Prime Minister Netanyahu, and more weakly with a majoritarian understanding of democracy and negative experiences with the legal system. Populist attitudes are not associated with support for the government's plan. Our study advances research in the field by disentangling theoretical accounts regarding support for democratic backsliding and demonstrating the pitfalls of analyses that rely on cross-sectional data.
Location:
Eilan Hall, Feldman Building, Second Floor, Edmond Safra Campus.