Militant Democracy and the Paradox of Self-Defence

Populism, democratic self-defence, exceptional measures—these concerns converge in debates about how far a democracy may go to protect itself. The issue has moved to the center of public attention in the recent past and in the present. In this session, we examine whether restrictions on political actors are ever warranted, and at what cost. We ask, in particular, whether such measures protect pluralism or quietly erode it.
We will refer to the concept of Militant Democracy and its legal and historical context and devote ourselves to its practical implications. This includes, for example, to identify thresholds for intervention and assessing concrete tools. In addition, we will consider safeguards to prevent exceptional techniques to protect democracy from becoming routine governance.
Finally, we will ask what a fair democratic order looks like—or should look like—under populist pressure. Can one constrain actors without policing ideas? Can one defend open competition without normalising containment? And can one avoid turning crisis into a permanent state of exception?

The seminar will be conducted in English.

Lecturer will be Dr. Jamal Bashir.