Despite the Democratic Backsliding: Understanding the Electoral Successes and Public Support of Poland’s Law and Justice 2015–2020

Abstrakt

Social scientific studies on Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) focus on democratic backsliding, autocratization, illiberalism, and populism. Less attention is put to the reasons why the party maintained to keep high support and popularity in the society. Therefore, it is essential to ask: what made PiS strong? How do they managed to win elections despite heaviest criticism and accusations? This article aims at answering these questions and understanding what forces made the party successful and winning consecutive elections with record support at record turnouts. The proposed explanation to this are five main factors that made PiS popular: responding to expectations of the people and economic success that helped building credibility. They also sent clear message and proactive narrative, mastered organization of electoral campaigns, what contrasted with divided opposition unable to unite and propose an effective alternative. With this background the activities interpreted as democratic backsliding were rather detrimental, than helping to maintain power.