My guide to populist-proofing your democracy – before it’s too late | Timothy Garton Ash
In the face of rising nationalist populism, the preservation of democratic institutions is more crucial than ever. Timothy Garton Ash, a noted historian and political commentator, emphasizes the need for democracies to not only guard against the ascendance of anti-liberal forces but also to fortify themselves during periods when such populists hold power. He refers to the German concept of *wehrhafte Demokratie*, or “militant democracy,” which embodies a democracy’s ability to defend itself against extremist threats. However, Ash warns against extreme measures, such as banning the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. Such actions could inadvertently bolster the party’s narrative of victimhood and reinforce the belief that the democratic system is an elitist conspiracy against them. Instead of exclusion, he advocates for a more resilient approach that encourages engagement and reform within the democratic framework.
Drawing on European examples, Ash critiques the French strategy of forming a “republican arc” to isolate Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. This approach has proven counterproductive, as it fosters a fragmented political landscape that hinders necessary reforms while allowing the National Rally to critique from the sidelines. In contrast, he highlights the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders’ populist party was included in a coalition government. Although it ultimately failed to deliver on its promises, this inclusion allowed for a democratic process that led to a liberal party’s narrow victory in the subsequent elections. Ash’s insights serve as a call to action for democracies worldwide: rather than resorting to exclusionary tactics, they should focus on reinforcing their foundations, promoting inclusive dialogue, and ensuring accountability to foster a more robust political environment capable of withstanding populist challenges.
From public service broadcasting to an independent judiciary, these are the things that we must fight to keep
How can we defend our democracies against those who would destroy them? We talk a lot about strategies for keeping anti-liberal, nationalist populists out of power, but Donald Trump’s daily wielding of a wrecking ball shows that it’s equally important to reinforce your democracy so it can withstand a period of populists in power.
Germany has a concept called
wehrhafte
Demokratie
,
often weirdly translated as “militant democracy” but actually meaning a democracy capable of defending itself. Under this motto, some in Germany are
proposing to ban
Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), now one of the most popular parties in the country. That’s the wrong way to go. It would only reinforce the far-right party’s supporters in their conviction that the democratic state itself is a kind of liberal elitist conspiracy, and impart to the AfD the nimbus of martyrdom. The French experiment of a “republican arc”, in which virtually all the other parties agree only on keeping out Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, is also visibly backfiring. Such a wide range of parties unsurprisingly fails to agree on urgently needed reforms and the National Rally can go on criticising from the sidelines. So it’s worth contemplating the example of the Netherlands, where the party of the inflammatory populist Geert Wilders was allowed into power in a coalition government, failed to deliver, brought that government down by
withdrawing from the coalition
, and
lost the subsequent election
(albeit only narrowly) to a liberal party led by the young, dynamic Rob Jetten.
Timothy Garton Ash is a historian, political writer and Guardian columnist
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