Democratic backsliding

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/democratic-backsliding

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the process description?A gradual shift from democratic governance towards authoritarianism
2. What is the historical evolution?Shift from overt coups to internal dismantling of institutions by elected leaders
3. Why do some democracies become wobbly?Big differences in money, fights over ideas, and leaders who want all the power can make democracy weaker.
4. How can a new democracy be at risk?New democracies have weaker rules, so leaders can change laws from inside and make the country less free.

Authoritarianism: A governmental system characterized by absolute power, suppression of opposition, and limited individual freedoms.
Democratization: The process by which a country transitions from an authoritarian regime to a democratic one.
Personalist Politics: A form of rule where power is concentrated in the hands of an individual leader, often bypassing established institutions.
Populism: A political ideology that champions the common people against a perceived corrupt elite, often appealing to emotions and simplistic solutions.