External (extra-systemic) factors of the liberal democracy crisis in the modern world

Abstract

The article states that the study of the crisis of liberal democracy has become a key topic in socio-philosophical and politi- cal science discourses. Most research focuses on analyzing liberal democracy through the lens of European or post-Soviet experiences. At the same time, domestic political science still lacks comprehensive fundamental studies that thoroughly analyze crisis phenomena and predict the future of liberal-democratic values and practices on a global scale. The contemporary crisis of liberal democracy should be examined through the prism of profound transformations in the modern world, the interaction between democratic and liberal doctrines, the rise of populist tendencies even in developed countries, the strengthening of authoritarianism, and the destabilization of democratic institutions. An important factor is also the new geopolitical shifts that lead to strategic reformatting of global interests. The study aims to identify external (extra-systemic) factors of modern social de- velopment that drive anti-democratic and anti-liberal transformations within advanced liberal democracies. These factors include eco- nomic globalization; social polarization and the rollback of the «welfare society» concept; lack of a sense of community, national pride, or identity; shifts in the global balance of power; the retreat of the United States and EU countries from actively promoting and de- fending democratic values worldwide; the focus of the strongest liber- al democracies on their own domestic problems; the use of the liberal democracy crisis by authoritarian regimes to export their anti-demo- cratic infiuence; the «paradoxes of freedom» (as per I. Krastev); glob- al threats in human-nature interactions (depopulation, negative consequences of technological progress, pandemics, military confiicts, terrorism, climate change, migration crises, environmental pollution, energy instability, resource scarcity); hybrid threats (cyberattacks, disinformation, election interference); the rapid rise of populist movements in European countries. The research employs sociological, historical, structural-functional, systemic, comparative, analytical, and synthetic methods, as well as deduction, induction, forecasting, and observation. The study highlights the threats posed by the crisis of liberal democracy, as the rise of anti-democratic tendencies world- wide not only negatively affects individual rights and freedoms but also generates economic and security risks. The autocratization of states and the increase in repressive practices lead to the erosion of international agreements and alliances, destabilization of nations and regions, and create favorable conditions for the activities of rad- ical groups and extremists.