Democracy Under Attack: Can Ireland Resist the Global Decline?

Democracy Under Attack: Can Ireland Resist the Global Decline?

When: Wednesday, 11 June from 7.00pm – 8.30pm

Where: National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1

Join the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) for a panel discussion considering the resilience of Irish democracy against the backdrop of rising authoritarianism in Europe and beyond.

Our speakers — Professor Mary Murphy, Department of Sociology, Maynooth University, Oisín O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, Senator Patricia Stephenson and Sinéad O’Carroll, Editor, The Journal (event moderator) — will explore global trends, including the use of online mis- and disinformation as a tool to sow division, distort political campaigns and undermine trust in democratic institutions.

Panellists will also discuss the risks, potential challenges and emerging vulnerabilities for Ireland — as far-right actors attempt to exploit political alienation and socioeconomic inequality in an effort to rollback hard-won social progress.

Background

Liberal democracy is in global retreat. In recent years, we’ve seen autocrats deploy a familiar playbook: media censorship, election manipulation, civil society suppression and erosion of the rule of law.

As of 2024, only 29 liberal democracies remain — making it the rarest form of governance. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population now lives under autocratic rule, the highest share since 1978.

In the United States, rule of law isn’t just being eroded — it’s being actively dismantled. In recent months, we’ve witnessed an on-going, flagrant assault on democratic norms that’s characterised by executive overreach and suppression of dissent.

Although western Europe remains the world’s most democratic region, it’s not immune to global trends. Across the EU, media freedom — the first line of defence against authoritarianism — is deteriorating.

Meanwhile, digital misinformation and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine European democracy. Recently, they’ve been deployed by Russia to manipulate democratic elections in Romania and Moldova — while Elon Musk’s X has become a blunt extension of US foreign policy.

This event is free and open to the public.