Presidential rhetoric can increase support for actions that undermine democracies

What is it about?

Why do citizens who value democracy support presidents who undermine it? This article demonstrates that presidential rhetoric can increase support for democracy-degrading actions. Populist speech increases support for the expansion of presidential power by framing power-checking institutions as corrupt and the president as the sole legitimate representative of the people.

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Photo by Matheus Câmara da Silva on Unsplash

Photo by Matheus Câmara da Silva on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Democratic backsliding occurs when elected leaders undermine their own democracies. These findings explain why seemingly pro-democratic citizens acquiesce to, and sometimes even support, backsliding leaders.