Project Legitimacy
Our contemporary global politics highlights events of democratic backsliding. Despite the growing attention to this phenomenon, we know less about the presence and strength of democratic norms among citizens. This is surprising because democratic norms play a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of democratic systems. Project Legitimacy will provide new insights on how we can make democracy more resilient, by studying the subtle shifts in attitudes and convictions regarding democracy in citizens, using theoretical frameworks and a meticulously designed panel study spanning multiple waves. The project also explores the responses of citizens when faced with breaches of democratic norms by political figures.
The kick-off of the project was in the fall of 2023.
Understanding why democratic decay happens and how it can be prevented. By concentrating on the Netherlands, a nation often lauded for its democratic resilience yet not immune to backsliding tendencies, our research acquires major social relevance. We conduct a three-wave panel study among a representative sample of the Dutch population. Respondents are asked about levels of affective polarization and attitudes on (liberal) democracy and toleration. The project team received a midsize grant from the UvA. The Hot Politics Lab leads a work package in this project.
Project Legitimacy is an ongoing research project.
Bert Bakker
Matthijs Rooduijn
Gijs Schumacher
Honorata Mazepus
what makes some people gravitate towards populist radical right (PRR) parties? Research reveals a link between personality and support for PRR parties, suggesting a deeper psychological influence than previously thought. However, a key question remains: How can personality traits, known for their stability, explain a fluctuating phenomenon like PRR support?
In this project we study how people perceive and regulate threats and adopt political attitudes and behaviours to counter these threats.
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