Heads of section: Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins, Wesleyan University and Ferenc Laczo, Maastricht University
This section concentrates on the theories of (re/de) democratization, on the relationship between democracy and liberalism which is at the heart of the current populist crisis of democracy, as well as on the debates surrounding the notion of citizenship.
Cuban Spring in the Summer? Elaine Acosta on the Cuban protest
Stefano Palestini speaks with Cuban sociologist Elaine Acosta about the meaning and causes of the popular uprising against the Cuban government
After the Election in Iran: What to Expect From the New President?
Luíza Cerioli analyses the situation of Iran after the presidential elections, focusing on the international consequences of this choice.
Contesting German Memory Culture. A Conversation with Jennifer Evans on the Catechism Debate
Ferenc Laczo talks with Jennifer Evans (Carleton University) about the new Holocaust memory debate.
Is Neoliberalism Finally Dead?
Few concepts have been declared dead and buried more often than neoliberalism. However, it continues to survive. Neoliberal Resilience, Aldo Madariaga’s award-winning book, shows how. Review by Gabor Scheiring.
Can Technology Save Democracy?
How can we employ technology to facilitate the democratic process? Which platforms are more democratic than others? These and more questions are answered by Kevin Esterling, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of California in a conversation with the RevDem assistant editor, Catherine Wright.
Statelessness and the Global Political Order. A Conversation with Mira Siegelberg
Ferenc Laczo discusses with Mira Siegelberg her latest book “Statelessness”, the story of a much-contested legal category.
Future of Europe: What is not forbidden is allowed. RevDem Interview with Guy Verhofstadt
Last week three RevDem editors interviewed Guy Verhofstadt, co-chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Today we are publishing the edited transcript of this conversation.
Owning the Constitution: Chile’s Unexpected Civil Revolution
On 4 July 2021, Chile’s “unexpected” Constitutional Convention commenced following a grassroots civil revolution against the current regime since 2019. Co-Head of Section for Cross-Regional Dialogue Stefano Palestini Céspedes (Catholic University of Chile) interviews Julieta Suárez-Cao (Catholic University of Chile) and Patricia Politzer (Journalist and Member of the Chilean Constitutional Assembly) to discuss their roles in this process.
Democracy Rules: A Book Discussion with Jan-Werner Müller and His Critics
Review of Democracy will host a discussion of the book with the author to be moderated by Zsolt Enyedi (Central European University) and with three prominent voices in the field: Gráinne de Búrca (New York University), Jan Kubik (Rutgers University and University College London), Jeffrey C. Isaac (Indiana University) and Karolina Wigura (University of Warsaw)
Corrective power of the populists
Do populists pose a threat to constitutional democracy? Are populists always the villains in our tales about democracy? Bojan Bugarič answers these questions in a conversation with Kasia Krzyżanowska. He also talks about his recent book on the relationship between constitutionalism and populism, co-authored with Mark Tushnet.
How East-West Dynamics Define Europe
In his article, Ferenc Laczo writes about the roots of the division of Europe into East and West and its consequences for European politics today.
Legal impossibilism versus the rule of law
Our editor, Katarzyna Krzyżanowska, writes about the relation between the rule of law in Poland and the idea of legal impossibilism, providing some worrying empirical data on the administration of justice in Poland.
What Are the Sources of Democratic Legitimacy? Till van Rahden on Democracy as a Way of Life
Elias Buchetmann talks to Till van Rahden about his latest book Demoracy: A Fragile Way of Life, which focuses on the history of democracy in the Federal Republic of Germany and raises fundamental questions about the nature of democracy around the world.
An American in a Strangely Familiar World. Ben Rhodes explores the world the U.S. has made
Ferenc Laczo reviews “After the Fall. Being American in the World We’ve Made” by Ben Rhodes.
How the U.S. decided to lead the world. Wertheim on the transformation of American internationalism
Ferenc Laczó spoke to Stephen Wertheim about his new book, Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of US Global Diplomacy. The book explores the moment in which the US decided to lead the post-war world.
Reading Barnier’s diary: Brexit and the nature of European integration
Our editor Michal Matlak reviews the secret diary of Michel Barnier, former EU chief Brexit negotiator and potential French presidential candidate.
“I Won’t Remain Silent”: Interview on Human Rights Activism in Hungary
In an interview with Bence Bari, Vera Mérő, Hungarian journalist, media researcher and human rights activist, discusses the questions of representation, popularization, internal conflicts and successes, challenges and leeways provided by the political and the social sphere when it comes to human rights activism in Hungary since 2016
Populism and Antipopulism: Beyond the Post-1989 Paradigm
Petr Agha, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Copenhagen in the iCourts Centre of Excellence for International Courts of the University of Copenhagen, discusses the clash between populism and antipopulism, and the implications for Europe, in conversation with Oliver Garner.
Illiberal finance: think globally, act locally
Gabor Scheiring reviews the book by Fabio Mattioli “Dark Finance. Illiquidity and Authoritarianism at the Margins of Europe”
Rule of Law is not like IKEA furniture
What is the societal dimension of the rule of law? How can we improve democracy on the European Union level? Is there a place for citizens engagement in design of the Conference on the Future of Europe? Paul Blokker, an associate professor at the University of Bologna, in a conversation with Kasia Krzyżanowska, unpacked all these issues.
“The Future Cannot be Stopped”: Interview on Feminism in Hungary
In an interview with our assistant editor Bence Bari, Lili Rutai, Hungarian feminist journalist and podcaster, co-founder and co-host of the popular podcast series “Vénusz Projekt,” discusses the representation and the popularization of feminism in Hungary
A limited and cautious democracy. Interview with Martin Conway
Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins and Ferenc Laczo discuss with Martin Conway his latest book “Western Europe’s Democratic Age,1945-1968”. You can listen to the podcast or read the edited transcript below.
Remaking politics in response to the assault on natural world
RevDem Editor Ferenc Laczo is discussing the book “Planet on Fire. A Manifesto for the Age of Environmental Breakdown” by Mathew Lawrence and Laurie Laybourn-Langton with its authors.
[RevDem Launch Event] Conference on the Future of Europe: Democratic Innovation or Business as Usual?
May 9th marked the opening of the Conference on the Future of Europe. In the debate we organised one day later, the panellists discussed its objectives, how to achieve them and whether it can give a new impetus to European integration.
The New Logic of Democratic Politics [Podcast and Interview]
Our editor Ferenc Ferenc Laczó talks with Chris Bickerton about his latest book Technopopulism.
Citizens as Masters of the EU Treaties [Interview and Podcast]
Who are really the masters of the EU treaties and where does constituent power in the European Union lie — Markus Patberg, interviewed by Kasia Krzyżanowska, offers his answers to these questions.
It’s not only about the rule of law: Poland and Hungary in the EU [Podcast and Interview]
The EU rule of law framework is not the best way to check compliance with the EU’s basic values, says Gábor Halmai in a conversation with RevDem’s assistant editor Teodora Miljojković.
Editorial: Why yet another journal on democracy?
April 2021 marks the first month of the Review of Democracy, RevDem for short, an intellectual and academic journal founded by the CEU Democracy Institute. In our first editorial, we would like to inform our readers about the purpose of the Review and the main ideas behind it.
There is still hope. Interview with Adam Bodnar, Polish Ombudsman
On April 21, Review of Democracy and CEU Democracy Institute hosted Adam Bodnar, Polish Ombudsman.
Ernst Fraenkel – a Jewish lawyer who resisted the Nazis
Kasia Krzyżanowska talks to Douglas G. Morris, a legal historian and practicing criminal defense attorney with Federal Defenders of New York, about his newest book on Ernst Fraenkel.
Stasavage: Democracy requires continuous effort (PODCAST AND LONG READ)
David Stasavage (New York University) in conversation with RevDem editor Ferenc Laczo (Maastricht University) about his recent book “The Decline and Rise of Democracy”, which presents the global history of democracies since ancient times.
Sustainable Democracy after 25 years. Conversation with Adam Przeworski
Our editor-in-chief Laszlo Bruszt asks Adam Przeworski about the contemporary relevance of “Sustainable democracy”, a seminal book published 25 years ago.
Fascism to Populism and Back Again? [PODCAST AND LONG READ]
RevDem editor Ferenc Laczo (Maastricht University) talks with Federico Finchelstein (New School for Social Research, New York) about his two recent books: “From Fascism to Populism in History” and “A Brief History of Fascist Lies”.
We are looking for assistant editors!
Take a look at our Internship & Mentorship Programme for PhD students from CIVICA network.
A Certain Anachronistic Appeal. On Conversations with Francis Fukuyama
On the 3rd of May, the Georgetown University Press will publish “After the End of History. Conversation with Francis Fukuyama”. Our editor Ferenc Laczo from Maastricht University reviews the volume.
We cannot analytically divide reason from emotion
In the second part of the conversation, Jan-Werner Müller interviewed by Luka Lisjak Gabrijelčič talks about populism and employment of emotions, and on bipartisanship and political conflict.
Vaccination passports – the way to go?
In the newest episode of the RevDem podcast Giancarlo Grignaschi interviews Luiza Bialasiewicz (University of Amsterdam) and Prof. Oskar Josef Gstrein (University of Groningen). They discussed the latest proposal of the European Commission – vaccination passports (or certificates).
DI and RevDem Event: What Price the Rule of Law?
On 25 January the CEU Democracy Institute hosted Commissioner Didier Reynders and MEP Katalin Cseh for a debate on the new EU Regulation on Rule of Law conditionality. In this first editorial of the RevDem Rule of Law section, editor Oliver Garner and assistant editor Teodora Miljojkovic reflect on the implications for constitutional democracy of the impression that the Rule of Law comes at a price.
The Future of Democracy in EU Member States
Michał Matlak summarises the debate on the future of democracy in Member States.
Myanmar After the Coup
In a conversation with Assistant Editor Gaurav Mukherjee, Melissa Crouch discusses the rapidly evolving situation involving the military coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021.
Academic Freedom and the Rule of Law
In the latest RevDem Rule of Law podcast, Oliver Garner interviews Professor Nandini Ramanujam, Full Professor (Professional) at the Faculty of Law of McGill University and the Co-Director of the Center for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, where she supervises the academic freedom monitoring clinic.
Far-right Demonstrations — They Are Not Going Anywhere
Michael Zeller, in a conversation with Kasia Krzyżanowska, talks about far-right mobilization campaigns and the processes of their de-mobilization.
For what does democracy need political parties?
Jan-Werner Müller, in an interview with Luka Lisjak Gabrijelčič, talks about the functions of contemporary political parties, the role of the constitutional courts and the future of European Christian Democracy.
The Politics of Antipopulism
The mainstream media and academia as well as political elites identify populist movements as the most important threat to the current liberal democratic regime. Populist actors have indeed unsettled and begun reshaping the European political landscape.
To Protect Academic Freedom, Stop Rule of Law Backsliding
Rule of Law and academic freedom are cherished political ideals of the liberal tradition. Insights from our work at McGill University’s academic freedom monitoring clinic, conducted in partnership with Scholars at Risk Network, has underscored the mutually reinforcing relationship between these two notions.
The Trump Canon of Democratic Struggle
Lozada’s book offers an answer to the problem of how we discursively resisted Trump’s presidency. Review by Katarzyna Krzyżanowska
Adding Bite to the Member States’ Rule of Law Bark?
Oliver Garner interviews Professor Dimitry Kochenov on the prospects for Member State to Member State infringement actions to enforce the Rule of Law in the EU.
We’ve Gotten the Ogre Out of the Way
Samuel Moyn in an interview with RevDem editor Katarzyna Nowicka talks about the legacy of Donald Trump and the presidency of Joe Biden.
Enemies at the Liberal Democratic Gates
Is America living in the shadow of the post-Cold War liberalism? Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins argues that some liberal intellectuals are still looking for an enemy who can give a cause to their political actions.
What Price the Rule of Law?
On 25 January the CEU Democracy Institute hosted Commissioner Didier Reynders and MEP Katalin Cseh for a debate on the new EU Regulation on Rule of Law conditionality. Oliver Garner and Teodora Miljojkovic reflect on the implications for constitutional democracy of the impression that the Rule of Law comes at a price.
Rule of Law Conditionality: The Sharpest New Tool in the Box?
In an interview with Oliver Garner, Professor Petra Bard argues that the new Regulation on budget conditionality could strengthen the EU’s enforcement prong in response to Rule of Law violations.
Conference on the Future of Europe: Process more important than outcome
Conference on the Future of Europe: The process is more important than the outcome. Interview with Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor in European Union Law & Policy at the HEC in Paris.
It’s Identity, Stupid! An Interview with Guy Sorman on Identity as a Political Factor
Identity is a very strong political factor in the current world Guy Sorman*, philosopher and economist, the author of “The Conservative Revolution in America,” said in an interview with Michał Matlak.
Corrupted Politicians Do Not Want To Be Constrained by Their Bureaucracy
In an interview with Giancarlo Grignaschi, Mihaly Fazekas argues that political appointees in federal agencies exercise pressure to create conditions for individual tenders and contracts that can be exploited for politically convenient purposes.
RevDem Podcast with Alberto Alemanno on the Future of Europe
The RevDem, an online journal of the CEU Democracy Institute, presents a podcast interview with Professor Alberto Alemanno (HEC, Paris) and the founder of Good Lobby about the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe, interviewed by RevDem editor Michal Matlak.