Tolerate or repress anti-democratic parties? Factors shaping instruments of democratic defence
Tolerate or repress anti-democratic parties? Factors shaping instruments of democratic defence

Summary/Abstract: There is no single correct answer as to how states should respond to actors who undermine democratic values. Research to date indicates that the approach to defending democracy in a given country is shaped by a combination of various systemic, political and cultural factors. However, it is still unclear which factors are the decisive variables shaping a tolerant or repressive approach to anti-democratic parties, and what are the reasons for changes in this approach in a specific historical, political and institutional context. The lack of clear answers calls for further research. This article analyses the process of shaping and changing legal regulations towards anti-democratic parties in Poland. The study focuses on three factors: historical experiences, the democratisation process and political motivations, the importance of which is widely discussed in the literature. The study proved that the challenges of democratisation and historical experiences have, to some extent, shaped both a tolerant and repressive approach to anti-democratic parties in Poland. However, it was political motivations, and in particular the pursuit of compromise, that were decisive in adopting a particular approach and changing it over the years. The study also indicated that individual factors are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. The article uses content analysis of parliamentary debate transcripts and legal acts, as well as analysis of published materials.

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