This page features a curated selection of scholarly works from around the world that examine the role of judges in democratic decline and resistance to authoritarianism. The bibliography includes books, articles, and working papers from a range of disciplines — including law, political science, and sociology — that explore how legal professionals respond to democratic erosion, repression, and state capture.
Judges as targets of democratic decline
Satterthwaite, Sydow & Polk (2023). “Unchecking Power and Capturing Courts: How Autocratization Erodes Independent Judicial Systems”.
Satterthwaite, M. L., Sydow, K., & Polk, B. (2023). Unchecking Power and Capturing Courts: How Autocratization Erodes Independent Judicial Systems. Rutgers UL Rev., 76, 1147. The paper argues that courts have increasingly taken on legislative …
October 6, 2025Garcia Holgado & Urribarri, (2023) “Court-packing and democratic decay: A necessary relationship? Global Constitutionalism”
Garcia Holgado, B., & Sánchez Urribarri, R. (2023). Court-packing and democratic decay: A necessary relationship? Global Constitutionalism, 12(2), 350–377. doi:10.1017/S2045381723000011 A growing body of literature on the role of courts in democratic backsliding claims that court-packing weakens …
September 21, 2025Afghan Women Judges Left in Peril Without Asylum Support
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan’s female judges and prosecutors have lived under constant threat. Once respected leaders, they are now forced into hiding, facing intimidation, violence, and social erasure. Many cannot seek medical …
September 10, 2025Lai (2022), “Securitisation or Autocratisation? Hong Kong’s Rule of Law under the Shadow of China’s Authoritarian Governance.”
Yan-Hao Lai, “Securitisation or Autocratisation? Hong Kong’s Rule of Law under the Shadow of China’s Authoritarian Governance.” Journal of Asian and African Studies, vol. 58, no. 1 (2022): 8-25. Summary: This article examines the nature …
August 31, 2025Joshua (2023), “Justifications of Repression in Autocracies: An Empirical Analysis of Morocco and Tunisia, 2000–2010.”
Maria Joshua, “Justifications of Repression in Autocracies: An Empirical Analysis of Morocco and Tunisia, 2000–2010.” Contemporary Politics, vol. 30, no.1 (2023): 108–36 Summary: How do autocrats communicate about repression? Previous studies have analysed how autocratic …
August 31, 2025- More Posts
Evidence of Judges Resisting Democratic Decline
Piana (2010), “Judicial Accountabilities in New Europe: From Rule of Law to Quality of Justice.”
Daniela Piana, Judicial Accountabilities in New Europe: From Rule of Law to Quality of Justice (1st ed.). London: Routledge, 2010. Summary: This volume focuses on a highly challenging aspect of all European democracies, namely the issue …
August 31, 2025Gerzso (2023), “Judicial resistance during electoral disputes: Evidence from Kenya.”
Thalia Gerzso,”Judicial resistance during electoral disputes: Evidence from Kenya.” Electoral Studies, vol.85 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102653. Summary: Over the last decade, African courts have played an important role in the conduct of free and fair elections. In Kenya, …
August 31, 2025Puleo, Coman (2023), “Explaining Judges’ Opposition When Judicial Independence Is Undermined: Insights from Poland, Romania, and Hungary.”
Leonardo Puleo, Ramona Coman, “Explaining Judges’ Opposition When Judicial Independence Is Undermined: Insights from Poland, Romania, and Hungary.” Democratization, vol. 31, no. 1 (2023): 47–69. Summary: Over the past decade, governing parties in Central and …
August 31, 2025Gamboa, García-Holgado, González-Ocantos (2024), “Courts against Backsliding: Lessons from Latin America.”
Laura Gamboa, Benjamín García-Holgado, Ezequiel González-Ocantos, “Courts against Backsliding: Lessons from Latin America.” Law & Policy, vol. 46, no. 4 (2024): 358–379. Summary: The recent wave of autocratization in Latin America has put courts at the …
August 31, 2025Chopra (2019), “Judging the Troops: Exceptional Security Measures and Judicial Impact in India.”
Surabhi Chopra, “Judging the Troops: Exceptional Security Measures and Judicial Impact in India.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 44, no. 3 (2019): 555–85. Summary: This Article examines a controversial national security measure: the use of the …
August 31, 2025- More Posts
Evidence of Judges Aiding Democratic Decline
No posts currently available to show