Tag: democracy

Law & Constitutions, Politics & Policy, Uncategorized

Coronajurisprudence and the limits of liberal coercion

Covid restrictions across the world raise the question of how far a liberal state can go in imposing coercive measures to protect life and health. Oliver Gerstenberg explores the answers the German constitutional court has given in its recent rulings on Germany’s Covid-19 measures. He also reflects on whether a vaccine mandate is compatible with the bedrock of legitimacy in liberal democracies. Continue reading Coronajurisprudence and the limits of liberal coercion

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Politics & Governance

Why we must go beyond the “backsliding paradigm”

Seán Hanley, Associate Professor in Comparative Central and East European Politics, UCL SSEES and Licia Cianetti, Research Fellow at the Royal Holloway University of London, argue why we must move beyond the “backsliding paradigm” by demonstrating how it can lead to reproducing, in reverse, the transition paradigm. They draw on lessons from East-Central Europe to propose a broader focus. Continue reading Why we must go beyond the “backsliding paradigm”

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History & Culture

‘We Can’t Be Afraid Anymore’ – Artists Behind the Frontline in Belarus

In her interviews with three Belarusian artists on their work portraying the recent political protests in Belarus, Pippa Crawford, Final Year Russian Studies Student at UCL SSEES, highlights the fundamental role art has played in the protests. Continue reading ‘We Can’t Be Afraid Anymore’ – Artists Behind the Frontline in Belarus

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Brexit, Law & Constitutions

We need to talk about our democracy

Recent days have seen ferocious attacks against the roles of both judges and parliamentarians in our democratic system. Alan Renwick and Meg Russell of the UCL Constitution Unit write that this assault is just the latest in a series of signs that the quality of our democracy is under threat. In light of this they argue for concerted efforts to defend that democracy: by pushing back … Continue reading We need to talk about our democracy

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Brexit, Law & Constitutions

The EU referendum and some paradoxes of democratic legitimacy

In parliamentary democracies referendums generate alternative, competing sources of legitimacy. This has been clearly demonstrated by the EU referendum result, with the public voting to Leave despite a clear parliamentary majority for continued membership. Nat le Roux, Strategy Director of The Constitution Society, discusses this paradox and suggests that it would not be unreasonable for some MPs to choose to vote against the invocation of … Continue reading The EU referendum and some paradoxes of democratic legitimacy

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