Carol Rifelj Lecture Series, Sebnem Gumuscu
- Sponsored by:
- Dean of the Faculty
Party Capture and Democratic Backsliding
Democratic backsliding is typically explained by what aspiring autocrats do once in power: capture courts, weaponize law, and polarize electorates. This lecture traces the process further back, to its origin inside political parties: How do insurgent factions seize control of ruling parties before subverting democratic politics? What role do financial resources, party rules, and media control play in allowing a captured faction to consolidate power within the party before turning against democratic institutions?
Franklin Environmental Center, The Orchard-Hillcrest 103