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U.S. Democratic Backsliding and the Decline of Democratic Support Abroad

Sat, September 2, 4:00 to 5:30pm PDT (4:00 to 5:30pm PDT), LACC, 150A

Abstract

A growing number of countries are experiencing democratic backsliding. A burgeoning body of research considers the domestic consequences of backsliding but is yet to fully examine its international implications. Specifically, the question of whether democratic backsliding in one democracy impacts public support for democracy abroad has so far not been addressed. Addressing this gap in knowledge, we propose that democratic backsliding in one country can affect levels of public support for democratic principles in other countries. To test this hypothesis, we use an original survey experiment in Israel where we test the effect of two different narratives regarding the 2020 US elections—one signaling democratic decline and the other democratic resilience—on support for democratic principles. We find that viewing the US as a backsliding democracy prompts Israelis to be less supportive of democratic principles at home. We further find that the perceived level of US influence on Israel, and respondents’ ideological preferences, condition this effect. Our findings suggest that democratic backsliding has previously unexplored consequences that extend internationally.

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