Research Projects

The Theft of Democracy in Post-Communist Europe: Democratic Backsliding through the Lens of Organized Crime and Populist Politics 

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Researched and Written by: Morgan McBride 

 

 

 

 

 

Although the world is more democratic today than a century earlier, the decline of liberal democracies throughout the past decade poses grave concerns about democracy's future stability. This paper examines the uneven trajectories of democratic backsliding in post-Communist Europe, focusing on Hungary, Serbia, and Albania. The region faces challenges from organized crime, where criminal enterprises collaborate with state actors, fostering corruption and undermining democratic institutions. Populist leaders exploit these conditions to consolidate power, posing a significant threat to democratic principles. 

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This paper argues that the intertwining of organized crime and politics, particularly in the context of populism, intensifies democratic backsliding. The erosion of political autonomy due to corruption weakens institutions essential for democracy, with the rise of populism reflecting broader threats to democratic stability in post-communist Europe. The relationship between organized crime, corruption, and populism serves as a significant barrier to democratic integrity, revealing a troubling pattern that jeopardizes the region's democratic future. 

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