Chernega Vladimir Nikolaevich – Sc.D. in Law, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy, Principal Researcher INION RAS
The article examines internal and external threats to democracy, which are increasingly described by French experts, politicians, and journalists. It is noted that the regime of the Fifth Republic, which is characterized by the «monarchical» powers of the president and, in general, the obvious predominance of the executive over the legislative, allows us to talk about the «flaws» of the democratic system in the country. The structure of the Fifth Republic is not flexible enough to adapt in a timely manner to the increasingly complex economic and social processes in the context of globalization and «digital revolution». A growing number of citizens feel that their interests are «not represented» within the system. At the same time, in this context, there is an erosion of the managerial capabilities of all government institutions, since many decisions regarding the economy and the social sphere are made outside national borders. Hence the drop in the interest of voters, especially young ones, in elections, especially in representative bodies. The problem is exacerbated by the growing distrust of the majority of the population towards the elites, who are accused of being «caste». In addition to low voter turnout, this leads to an increase in the influence of «populist» forces, which, according to most French experts, undermine the democratic consensus. Another serious challenge to democracy is Islamism, whose ideology, which denies democratic values, influences part of the country’s large Muslim community. Islamism also poses an external threat, since the main centers of its spread are located abroad. Other external threats, according to French authors, include the growing influence of «authoritarian» states, in particular China, the strengthening of «illiliberal democracies» in Hungary and Poland, which become an example for far-right movements in other EU states, and the uncontrolled activities of global Internet companies.
France, regime flaws, distrust of voters, «caste» of elites, populism, Islamism, «illiberal democracies».
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