Cities Against Democratic Backsliding

Evidence from Europe and Beyond
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-5292-5060-2
Verlag: Bristol University Press

Buch, Englisch, 240 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

As nationalist and populist movements gain traction worldwide, democracy faces growing threats. In many cases, large cities have emerged as strongholds of progressive and democratic values, pushing back against authoritarian pressures.

This timely book explores the evolving power struggle between cities and central governments, particularly in countries led by populist regimes. It examines key issues such as decentralisation, financial autonomy and participatory governance, showing how cities are leading the fight against democratic backsliding. As local governments become "laboratories of democracy”, this collection highlights their crucial role in protecting civil liberties and fostering political engagement in an era of rising extremism.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lackowska, Marta

Nguyen Long, Le Anh

Aksztejn, Wirginia

Tosics, Iván

Weitere Mitwirkende

La Vina, Enrico Antonio

Woo, Su Yun

Eraydin, Ayda

Vinci, Ignazio

Flores, Arturo

Corijn, Eric

Hambleton, Robin

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Stadt- und Regionalsoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Kommunal-, Regional-, und Landespolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Demokratie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface: Democracy at the Crossroads: Cities Must Act - Eric Corijn

1. Introduction - Ivan Tosics, Wirginia Aksztejn, Marta Lackowska, and Le Anh Nguyen Long

2. Cities and Democratic Backsliding - Marta Lackowska, Le Anh Nguyen Long, Ayda Eraydin, and Ivan Tosics

3. Conceptual and Methodological Basis of the Book - Wirginia Aksztejn, and Marta Lackowska

4. Right-Wings and the City in Contemporary Italy: Culture, Policies, and Remedy - Ignazio Vinci

5. Countering the Far-Right Threat to Cities and Communities in the UK - Robin Hambleton

6. Cities Against Populism in the US - Enrico Antonio La Viña and Le Anh Nguyen Long

7. Fragmented Recentralization Meets Local Resistance: The Case of Poland - Wirginia Aksztejn

8. Budapest Against the Attacks of the National Government - Ivan Tosics

9. Countering Authoritarian Neoliberal Populism: The Rise of New Social Municipalism in Turkey - Ayda Eraydin

10. Looking at Populism and Democratic Backsliding in the Latin American Context: The Case of El Salvador - Arturo Flores López

11. Citizen Participation in the Age of Chinese Authoritarian Populism - Su Yun Woo

12. Conclusions and Reflections - Le Anh Nguyen Long, Marta Lackowska, Ivan Tosics, and Wirginia Aksztejn

Über Autor(innen)

Lackowska, Marta
Marta Lackowska is Professor in the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies at the University of Warsaw, Poland.

Hambleton, Robin
Robin Hambleton is Emeritus Professor of City Leadership in the Faculty of Environment and Technology at the University of the West of England, Bristol and Director of Urban Answers. An expert on urban innovation, city management and local governance, he was the founding President of the European Urban Research Association (EURA) and Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Marta Lackowska is Professor at the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw.

Le Anh Nguyen Long is Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the University of Twente.

Wirginia Aksztejn is Research Assistant at the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw.

Ivan Tosics is Managing Director of the Metropolitan Research Institute in Budapest.