2 – Key Threats: Actors and Effects of Illiberalism and Autocracies

Introductory text

Illiberalism and autocratization do not emerge on their own. They are driven by political actors who promote specific ideas, strategies, and institutional changes. Understanding contemporary threats to liberal democracy therefore requires asking a simple but crucial question: who is doing this — and how?

This module focuses on the key actors behind illiberal and autocratic change. Rather than treating illiberalism as an abstract process, it examines the roles played by political leaders, parties, movements, and allied institutions. Special attention is paid to the distinction between actors who operate within democratic systems and those who govern authoritarian regimes, as well as to the interactions between them.

By focusing on actors and their effects, the module helps participants move from diagnosing illiberalism conceptually to recognizing how it is produced, sustained, and normalized in real political systems.