Mapping Illiberalism in Europe: Parties, Voters, and the Challenge to Democracy
Comparative Country Perspectives
Zsuzsanna Végh (ed.), The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Note from the Editor
Liberal democracy in Europe is facing one of its most serious tests since the end of the Cold War. Across the continent, illiberal forces have gained political relevance, reshaped public debate, and—in some cases—transformed democratic institutions themselves. These developments have unfolded against the backdrop of overlapping crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences, geopolitical confrontation, and accelerating social and cultural polarization. Together, they have exposed vulnerabilities in democratic systems and fuelled political projects that challenge core liberal principles such as institutional constraints on power, the rule of law, pluralism, and minority rights.
Importantly, the illiberal challenge confronting European democracies is neither uniform nor monolithic. Illiberal actors differ in their ideological roots and profiles as well as their political strategies. Their appeal rests on diverse combinations of nationalist, religious, xenophobic, or and populist narratives, and they mobilize distinct social constituencies across countries. Understanding this variation is essential. Treating illiberalism as a single phenomenon risks obscuring the mechanisms through which it gains traction and, in turn, undermining the ability of democratic actors to respond effectively.
This volume combing the seven country case studies of the AUTHLIB Country Paper Series is published under the Horizon-project Neo-Authoritarianisms in Europe and the Liberal Democratic Response (AUTHLIB), which starts from the premise that protecting liberal democracy requires first understanding its challengers. AUTHLIB systematically investigates the varieties of illiberalism in Europe, the ways they appeal to elites and citizens, and the channels through which they influence institutions, policies, and political discourse. Combining survey research, expert assessments, as well as textual and social media analysis, the project seeks not only to map the illiberal challenge to liberal democracy in Europe but also to inform context-sensitive responses that strengthen democratic resilience.
The AUTHLIB Country Paper Series operationalizes this ambition through in-depth analyses of seven European countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Hungary, Italy, and Poland. Each country paper applies a shared analytical lens that integrates three perspectives. First, it examines the supply side of illiberalism, mapping key political actors, their ideological profiles, and their historical trajectories. Second, it assesses impact and channels of influence, tracing how illiberal actors shape institutions, policies, and public debate—whether from government or opposition. Third, it analyzes the demand side, exploring citizen attitudes, social cleavages, and the voter bases that render illiberal strategies electorally viable. This combined approach allows the papers to illuminate not only who challenges liberal democracy, but why those challenges resonate.
Download the collection HERE.
Suggested citation: Végh, Zsuzsanna, ed. 2026. “Mapping Illiberalism in Europe: Parties, Voters, and the Challenge to Democracy.” AUTHLIB Country Papers 8.
