Democratic Backsliding in Israel – Episode 1

More countries around the world are shifting away from liberal
democracies toward electoral democracies. This process of
democratic erosion has already been experienced in some European
countries and is currently turning into a global phenomenon.


Israel is one of the few countries in the Middle East where free
and fair elections are still in place, and the judicial system
has traditionally preserved its impartiality. Until 2023, Israel
had been defined as a liberal democracy since 1973. However, in
2024, the V-Dem Democracy Report changed Israel’s status from a
liberal democracy to an electoral democracy.


At Radio Revolt, we are starting a new series of shows aimed at
understanding the reasons behind democratic backsliding in
Israel, with contributions from scholars, jurists, and ordinary
citizens. In this series, we will examine why such a significant
change has occurred in the country.


In this episode, I invited Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor, a
prominent Israeli academic, to provide an overview of democratic
backsliding. He discusses the characteristics of Israeli
democracy, recent judicial reforms, the relationship between
democracy in Israel and the occupation of the West Bank, and,
finally, how peace between Palestine and Israel might be
possible.