Can you tell us about the seminar?
"The seminar dealt with two closely connected global challenges: corruption and the ongoing trend of democratic backsliding and autocratization."
"We began by exploring corruption: what corruption is, what drives it, why it persists despite extensive efforts to combat it, and under what conditions it can be effectively addressed. We also discussed the consequences of corruption for societies and sustainable development."
"We then turned to the global trend of democratic backsliding and autocratization. What does this trend look like? Are certain regions or countries more affected than others? And what distinguishes this wave from previous periods of democratic backsliding and autocratization? We also discussed the consequences of democratic erosion for sustainable development."
"An important part of the seminar was exploring how these two phenomena are connected — how corruption can both contribute to and result from democratic erosion, and how democratic decline can in turn create conditions in which corruption thrives and persists."
"Ultimately, democratic erosion and corruption are among the world’s most pressing challenges, with far-reaching consequences for sustainable development. We therefore need to understand not only these phenomena and the processes behind them, but also how they interact, why these challenges persist, and under what conditions they can be effectively addressed."
What can you say about the trend of the decline in democracy?
"The trend of democratic decline that we are currently witnessing is extremely worrying, and it is already having a profound impact on societies and people across the globe."
"Scholars have argued that the ongoing third wave of autocratization differs from previous periods of democratic backsliding and erosion."
"Unlike past episodes of democratic erosion and breakdown, which were often driven by military coups or violent overthrows, contemporary democratic backsliding and autocratization often unfolds incrementally. Leaders use existing legal frameworks, constitutional changes, institutional loopholes, and other mechanisms to gradually dismantle democratic checks and balances from within. Moreover, multiparty elections often continue to take place, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when a democracy has been fundamentally eroded. Yet the meaning and quality of these elections are progressively weakened as the media, civil society, political opposition, and institutional oversight are suppressed."
"What is also distinctive about the third wave of autocratization is its global reach. It affects not only newer or more fragile democracies but also established democracies in both the Global South and the Global North, showing that no region or long-standing democratic tradition can be considered fully immune."
"In fact, according to the latest V-Dem Democracy Report, “Unraveling the Democratic Era?”, democracy is now back to 1978 levels for the average global citizen. The gains of the “third wave of democratization”, which began with the Carnation Revolution in Portugal in 1974, are almost eradicated. At the same time, the level of democracy for the average citizen in Western Europe and North America is at its lowest level in over 50 years."
Why is this subject important for these students?
"This is a topic that affects everyone, everywhere — not least people in higher education. Universities are among the institutions that non-democratic and autocratic leaders seek to control and constrain, because universities are spaces where knowledge is produced, ideas are challenged, and critical thinking can flourish."
"As such, universities can be important sites of positive change and resistance to autocratization. We have extensive historical and contemporary evidence from across the globe of students and researchers having played important roles in defending democratic values and institutions."
"This is why understanding these processes matters. Knowledge does not automatically lead to change, but it gives us a better basis for recognizing what is happening, understanding the forces driving democratic decline, and identifying opportunities to respond. The more we understand about democracy, autocratization, and corruption, the better equipped we are to participate in and contribute to efforts to protect democratic institutions and build more resilient societies."
What do you hope that students will bring from the seminar?
"I hope they leave with more knowledge, a deeper interest in the issues we discussed, and, perhaps most importantly, a sense that change is possible, and that they can be part of it. If the seminar sparks curiosity, engagement, and maybe even a little determination to contribute to positive change, that would be great."
