Exploring Democratic Erosion: IPSA at the 11th Congress of the Mexican Political Science Association

The Mexican Political Science Association (AMECIP) held its 11th International Congress in Guadalajara from 24-27 October 2023. The event featured a keynote address by IPSA Past President Marianne Kneuer, titled Democratic Erosion: Interaction between National and International Dimensions. 

Democratic erosion, characterized by the deliberate dismantling of democratic institutions by elected leaders, has been a dominant trend in recent decades. While usually considered an internal process, Kneuer's keynote highlighted its international dimensions. Prof. Kneuer argued that actors with illiberal tendencies are not only reshaping national governance but are also interested in influencing international politics. These agents of erosion challenge the global order by abandoning multilateral approaches, employing counter-hegemonic strategies, and disregarding international agreements.

The 2025 IPSA World Congress Program Co-Chair Azul A. Aguiar Aguilar also led a special roundtable with Alberto Olvera on Democratic Erosion and Civil Society, to address the growing concern about the erosion of democracy worldwide. The roundtable aimed to contribute to our understanding of the phenomenon of democratic erosion by focusing on the role of civil society, specifically the conditions under which citizens and organized groups play a part in slowing or hastening the dismantling of democratic regimes.