Poland is in the Midst of a Democratic Backslide

Demonstrations in front of the Polish parliament against the new law violating the independence of the judiciary, 18th July 2017 Flickr user Grzegorz Żukowski

Poland is in the midst of a democratic backslide. The country’s politics is dominated by the far right Law and Justice Party, which has embarked on a series of moves to curb the independence of the judiciary and free press. This has put Poland on a collision course with the European Union, of which it is a member. It has also earned the government the praise and support of Donald Trump–indeed Trump visited Poland this summer and delivered a rabble rousing speech appealing directly to right wing elements in Polish politics.

So how did we get here? And how threatened is liberal democracy in the heart of Europe? On the line with me to discuss the situation in Poland and why what happens in Poland matters to the rest of the world is Konsanty Gebert

Konstanty Gebert is an Associate Fellow at the European Council for Foreign Relations and an international reporter and columnist at Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland’s largest daily publication.  He was also a speaker at the Humanity in Action International Conference in Berlin this year.

If you have 20 minutes and want to learn why democracy in Poland is under threat right now, have a listen.

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