The Elections in Turkey and Poland: How Domestic Corruption Undermines Democracy

Please join the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund (ASD at GMF) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for a virtual discussion of the autocratic threats facing two of the most consequential national elections of 2023: Turkey and Poland.

From Ukraine’s courageous defense of its own sovereignty and democracy to the ongoing demands for human rights and reform in Iran, there are many reasons for optimism about the future of the liberal democratic order. But this hope ought to be tempered by the fact that the two most important elections in the world this year—Turkey in May and Poland in the fall—will be administered by severely backsliding regimes that will likely subvert any chance of a fair contest and, in Turkey, may even descend into unfree authoritarianism. Turkey and Poland are also both headed by increasingly autocratic leaders who have demonstrated their willingness to undermine key democratic institutions—including an independent judiciary and a free media—to further their holds on power. Their upcoming elections will offer a glimpse into the future of democracy—and have lasting impacts on the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

This event is sponsored by the Transatlantic Democracy Working Group. For further information, please contact Olivia Monroe at omonroe@gmfus.org.

Speakers

Dr. Cassandra Emmons
Senior Democracy Data Analyst, Center for Applied Research and Learning, IFES
 
Dr. Lisel Hintz
Assistant Professor of International Relations, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies 

Moderator

Josh Rudolph
Head of Malign Finance and Corruption Team, ASD at GMF