Democratic resilience is a new concept that has emerged in the context of democratic backsliding around the world. While some countries are experiencing a decline in their democratic practice and culture, a handful of countries have managed to navigate turbulent waters and have adapted their democratic systems to new and emerging challenges, including authoritarian, populist, and strongman rule. As recently as a decade ago, holding relatively free and fair elections would not only confer legitimacy to a democratic governance process but would also strengthen the peaceful transfer of power. Today, elections are used by autocrats to legitimize their undemocratic rule, and in other cases, losing candidates are questioning the legitimacy of the process and results, simply because they did not win. The entire democratic governance ecosystem is under stress, including key elements such as independent media, the rule of law, and civil society. Meanwhile, autocratic rule has expanded worldwide at the expense of norms, democratic values, and human rights. Governments and leaders with authoritarian tendencies have presided over democratic backsliding, dismantling, and attacking institutions such as courts and the media, and closing the civic space. How can we understand democratic resilience in this context? What makes a democratic country resilient?
