Overview:
This panel examines the complex relationship between political polarization and the resilience or fragility of democratic regimes across diverse historical and social contexts. Through cases from interwar Europe, post-communist societies, Venezuela, and South Korea, the panel explores how polarization dynamics impact democratic trajectories, driving either resilience or authoritarian drift. Each study shows how specific institutional and social factors influence polarization’s outcomes: some democracies adapt under polarized pressures, while others fall to authoritarianism.
Through comparative analysis, this panel provides insights into conditions—such as elite strategies, institutional adaptability, and societal divides—that affect stability in polarized environments. The cases illustrate how institutional structures and elite coalitions can either manage or intensify polarization, underscoring the need for adaptable democratic institutions to counter destabilizing effects. By examining these dynamics, the panel offers a nuanced view of how democratic regimes worldwide might navigate increasing polarization.
Contents:
1) Paths to Democratic Collapse and Resilience in Interwar Europe: This paper examines the interwar period in Europe, focusing on how elite divisions and institutional fragility influenced democratic collapse or resilience. Through comparative analysis, it sheds light on the conditions that enabled some democracies to withstand polarization, while others succumbed to authoritarianism.
2) Polarization after Regime Change in Post-Communist Societies: This study explores the persistence of ideological polarization in Eastern Europe and East Asia after the fall of communist regimes. It shows how left-wing authoritarian legacies continued to affect democratic consolidation, limiting the success of political reforms in highly polarized environments.
3) The Effects of Political Polarization on Venezuela’s Foreign Policy during the 21st Century: Focusing on Venezuela under Chavez and Maduro, this paper analyzes how internal polarization shaped the country’s foreign policy. It highlights the link between domestic divisions and foreign alignments, showing how polarization impacts regime endurance by influencing international behavior.
4) Political Polarization in South Korea Since Democratization: This paper examines the path-dependent nature of polarization in South Korea, tracing its evolution since democratization. It discusses the potential for direct democracy mechanisms to enhance democratic resilience within a polarized society, addressing contemporary challenges of managing polarization in a stable democracy.