Joanna Rak – författare

After the multidimensional financial crisis of 2008, the member states of the Eurozone imposed a set of economic policies to save their economies. Socially unpopular cuts contributed to the occurrence of violent movements that both opposed austerity policies and created animosity towards the politicians who implemented them. Combining qualitative and quantitative comparative analyses from anti-austerity movements in 14 Eurozone states from 2007 to 2015, Joanna Rak develops an original typology of patterns of a culture of political violence to explain why some anti-austerity movements turned to violence and others did not, despite having shared goals and political values. She uncovers the very nature of the differences and similarities between cultures of political violence, identifies their sources, and determines their differing results. Simultaneously, she opens a discussion on the exploratory and explanatory utility of the category of a culture of political violence in the Social Sciences.Theorizing Cultures of Political Violence in Times of Austerity casts new light on the scholarly debate on cultures of political violence and anti-austerity violent behavior, making it a compelling read for scholars of political sociology, political behavior, comparative politics, European politics, and sociology.

After the multidimensional financial crisis of 2008, the member states of the Eurozone imposed a set of economic policies to save their economies. Socially unpopular cuts contributed to the occurrence of violent movements that both opposed austerity policies and created animosity towards the politicians who implemented them.Combining qualitative and quantitative comparative analyses from anti-austerity movements in 14 Eurozone states from 2007 to 2015, Joanna Rak develops an original typology of patterns of a culture of political violence to explain why some anti-austerity movements turned to violence and others did not, despite having shared goals and political values. She uncovers the very nature of the differences and similarities between cultures of political violence, identifies their sources, and determines their differing results. Simultaneously, she opens a discussion on the exploratory and explanatory utility of the category of a culture of political violence in the Social Sciences.Theorizing Cultures of Political Violence in Times of Austerity casts new light on the scholarly debate on cultures of political violence and anti-austerity violent behavior, making it a compelling read for scholars of political sociology, political behavior, comparative politics, European politics, and sociology.

This book examines contemporary militant democracies in post-communist states in the European Union.Examining, through case studies, their broader relevance to political, legal, and social structures, this book looks in revealing detail at the struggles between these democratic and anti-democratic actors that share similar historical experiences of contentious politics, communism, and political transformation. It importantly unravels the tension between them, determining which are already authoritarian, and which are teetering on the brink of an anti-democratic breakthrough. Analysing regimes’ continuance trajectories to capture how and what shaped the neo-militant aspects of democracies (neomilitancy) over time, the book accounts for why particular post-communist European neo-militant democracies emerge while others decline or transform into quasi-militant democracies despite transformation, how they differ from each other, what brings about the differences and similarities between them, and how and why they change over time. With right-wing populist parties coming to power on the back of fears associated with economic, social, and cultural globalisation and the misuse of state authorities to strengthen protective measures against threats to democratic institutions, the book represents a timely and important contribution. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of Post-Soviet/Communist/East European Studies, Democratic Backsliding, European and Comparative Politics, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, Democracy and Dictatorship, Public Comparative Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law and Political Theory.

This book examines contemporary militant democracies in post-communist states in the European Union.Examining, through case studies, their broader relevance to political, legal, and social structures, this book looks in revealing detail at the struggles between these democratic and anti-democratic actors that share similar historical experiences of contentious politics, communism, and political transformation. It importantly unravels the tension between them, determining which are already authoritarian, and which are teetering on the brink of an anti-democratic breakthrough. Analysing regimes’ continuance trajectories to capture how and what shaped the neo-militant aspects of democracies (neomilitancy) over time, the book accounts for why particular post-communist European neo-militant democracies emerge while others decline or transform into quasi-militant democracies despite transformation, how they differ from each other, what brings about the differences and similarities between them, and how and why they change over time. With right-wing populist parties coming to power on the back of fears associated with economic, social, and cultural globalisation and the misuse of state authorities to strengthen protective measures against threats to democratic institutions, the book represents a timely and important contribution. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of Post-Soviet/Communist/East European Studies, Democratic Backsliding, European and Comparative Politics, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, Democracy and Dictatorship, Public Comparative Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law and Political Theory.

This book examines how contemporary militant democracies persist in the face of authoritarian abuses occurring during times of crisis. Focusing on founding members of the European Union, it explores how these democracies implemented anti-democratic measures without compromising their political rights and civil liberty ratings.By expanding the conceptual framework and theory of neo- and quasi-militant democracies through case studies and comparative analysis, the volume offers new insights into factors contributing to democratic endurance. Respective authors shift scholarly attention toward the epistemic construction of anti-democratic restrictions, arguing that epistemic fairness in defining anti-democratic threats plays a crucial role in preventing the erosion of democracy and, in doing so, enriches our understanding of legal definitions of enemies of democracy and their impact on the stability of political regimes. Investigating restrictions that target old and contemporary threats enhances our understanding of how Inner Six democracies survive under attack from populists seeking to expand their ruling competencies after the 2008 economic crisis, the 2015 European refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russo-Ukrainian War.This book is of key interest to scholars and students of European and Comparative Politics, Democratic Resilience and Backsliding, Legitimacy, Democracy and Dictatorship, Public Comparative Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, Philosophy of Law, and Political Philosophy and Theory.

This book examines how contemporary militant democracies persist in the face of authoritarian abuses occurring during times of crisis. Focusing on founding members of the European Union, it explores how these democracies implemented anti-democratic measures without compromising their political rights and civil liberty ratings.By expanding the conceptual framework and theory of neo- and quasi-militant democracies through case studies and comparative analysis, the volume offers new insights into factors contributing to democratic endurance. Respective authors shift scholarly attention toward the epistemic construction of anti-democratic restrictions, arguing that epistemic fairness in defining anti-democratic threats plays a crucial role in preventing the erosion of democracy and, in doing so, enriches our understanding of legal definitions of enemies of democracy and their impact on the stability of political regimes. Investigating restrictions that target old and contemporary threats enhances our understanding of how Inner Six democracies survive under attack from populists seeking to expand their ruling competencies after the 2008 economic crisis, the 2015 European refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russo-Ukrainian War.This book is of key interest to scholars and students of European and Comparative Politics, Democratic Resilience and Backsliding, Legitimacy, Democracy and Dictatorship, Public Comparative Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, Philosophy of Law, and Political Philosophy and Theory.

As public order policing become more prominently widespread so is the need to better explain why some instances of collective action transform into civil disorder. In this book, Joanna Rak advances a middle-range theory to better explain the sources of civil disorder in one of the pandemic-ridden regions of the European Union, the post-communist states. Supported by systematic empirical evidence of protest policing in 11 countries in the region, Rak delves analytically into conditions of civil disorder in each state to test the hypotheses and offer an explanation. The analysis begins by discussing the demonstration events from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project database. She then identifies conditions of civil disorder development for each demonstration event, including police partisanship, the dimensions of protest policing, and the aggregate model of protest policing. The comparative analysis sheds light on the conditions under which collective action transforms into civil disorder and the outcomes vital for managing the relationship between law enforcement and public gatherings in a way that ensures the safe practice of civil rights.Pandemic-Era Civil Disorder in Post-Communist EU Member States offers a thought-provoking and nuanced understanding of civil order and democratic struggles in the region and will interest students and researchers of comparative politics, contentious politics, democratic theory, civil society, and post-communism.

As public order policing become more prominently widespread so is the need to better explain why some instances of collective action transform into civil disorder. In this book, Joanna Rak advances a middle-range theory to better explain the sources of civil disorder in one of the pandemic-ridden regions of the European Union, the post-communist states. Supported by systematic empirical evidence of protest policing in 11 countries in the region, Rak delves analytically into conditions of civil disorder in each state to test the hypotheses and offer an explanation. The analysis begins by discussing the demonstration events from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project database. She then identifies conditions of civil disorder development for each demonstration event, including police partisanship, the dimensions of protest policing, and the aggregate model of protest policing. The comparative analysis sheds light on the conditions under which collective action transforms into civil disorder and the outcomes vital for managing the relationship between law enforcement and public gatherings in a way that ensures the safe practice of civil rights.Pandemic-Era Civil Disorder in Post-Communist EU Member States offers a thought-provoking and nuanced understanding of civil order and democratic struggles in the region and will interest students and researchers of comparative politics, contentious politics, democratic theory, civil society, and post-communism.

This book analyses the evolving nature of democratic threats and identifies strategies necessary to safeguard democratic governance in an increasingly turbulent political environment.It explores how democratic systems in Europe have faced, and continue to face, threats from various entities that exhibit essential characteristics of being enemies of democracy, including fascism, Nazism, authoritarianism, and modern forms of populism and external interference. Through detailed case studies, the book examines the tactics used by enemies of democracy to undermine the sovereignty of political nations, from the rise of totalitarian regimes in the twentieth century to contemporary challenges like Russia’s democratic decline and hybrid warfare tactics in Poland and Estonia. It also highlights how certain democracies have successfully resisted these threats, offering valuable lessons for protecting democratic values and institutions in today’s world. Going beyond historical analysis, the book provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding and categorising the enemies of democracy, transforming the concept from a normative idea into a powerful analytical tool.This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European history and politics, political theory, democracy, political systems, political philosophy, and comparative politics.

This book analyses the evolving nature of democratic threats and identifies strategies necessary to safeguard democratic governance in an increasingly turbulent political environment.It explores how democratic systems in Europe have faced, and continue to face, threats from various entities that exhibit essential characteristics of being enemies of democracy, including fascism, Nazism, authoritarianism, and modern forms of populism and external interference. Through detailed case studies, the book examines the tactics used by enemies of democracy to undermine the sovereignty of political nations, from the rise of totalitarian regimes in the twentieth century to contemporary challenges like Russia’s democratic decline and hybrid warfare tactics in Poland and Estonia. It also highlights how certain democracies have successfully resisted these threats, offering valuable lessons for protecting democratic values and institutions in today’s world. Going beyond historical analysis, the book provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding and categorising the enemies of democracy, transforming the concept from a normative idea into a powerful analytical tool.This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European history and politics, political theory, democracy, political systems, political philosophy, and comparative politics.