HPS³ - Noam Gidron- Resistance to Backsliding: The Role of Democratic Conceptions

The seminar will be held in English.

The Hamburg Political Science Seminar Series (HPS³) features international speakers presenting cutting-edge research in empirical political science and political economy.

We welcome on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 17:15-18:45 CET in VMP9 B130:

Noam Gidron (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Title: Resistance to Backsliding: The Role of Democratic Conceptions

(co-authored with Yotam Margalit, Lior Sheffer und Itamar Yakir)

Abstract:

We examine who mobilizes against democratic backsliding, focusing on mass protests against the judicial overhaul advanced by the Israeli government in 2023. As contemporary subversion of democracy is often driven by governments that won an electoral majority, we posit that protesting against the government’s actions requires people to have a thick conception of democracy that goes beyond majority rule. Drawing on panel data collected before and after the overhaul’s announcement, we show that citizens vary substantially in their conception of democracy, and that a thick conception not only predicts protesting against backsliding but also moderates the role of other key factors in mobilizing against democratic erosion. The findings highlight the role of small-d democrats in safeguarding democracy.

The HPS³ seminars take place in person at the UHH. Please find the preliminary program (pdf) on the HPS³ Website.

 We invite everyone interested to attend the HPS Seminar Series and are looking forward to seeing you.