In recent years, the rise of right-wing populism has dramatically reshaped the political and legal landscapes in Europe and the United States, sparking a widespread backlash against democratic norms and human rights. While much of the discourse has centred on populist leaders and governments, these political forces are not acting in isolation. They have forged strategic alliances with conservative lawyers and legal NGOs to reinterpret and reshape the rule of law in ways that serve their political objectives. The judicial decisions restricting abortion rights by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Polish Constitutional Court are primary illustrations of this right-wing vision for fundamental rights. This roundtable delves into the legal and political strategies deployed by the right-wing non-state actors to challenge democratic principles and consolidate power.
About the programme
How are courts and legal institutions adapting to—or being reshaped by—these ideological shifts? What is the role of the legal profession in the rise of extreme right-wing politics? What does it mean when human rights are reinterpreted to serve political ends? And crucially, who can mount a successful resistance to these transformations?
Join us for a dynamic discussion at the intersection of law, politics, and power, as we explore the conflicts and transformations that are redefining the future of democracy.
About the speakers
- Pola Cebulak is Assistant Professor of European Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in European courts and legal mobilization in response to the illiberal backlash.
- Scott Cummings is Professor of Law at UCLA, researching the role of lawyers in democratic backsliding.
- Karolina Kocemba is Socio-legal scholar, post-doc at the University of Wrocław and European University Institute, focusing on reproductive rights and transnational legal mobilization.
- Sarah de Lange is Professor of Political Pluralism at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in political parties, party systems, and democratic pluralism in Europe.
Moderator
- Michał Stambulski is Assistant Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, with expertise in constitutionalism, populism in Central and Eastern Europe, and philosophy of democracy.
