Is the West Experiencing Democratic Backsliding?

Recently, the Supreme Court in the US announced that it will not hear the case of McKesson v. Doe. This decision leaves in place a lower court decision that effectively eliminated the right to organize a mass protest in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The implication is that a protest organizer faces potential financial consequences if a single attendee at a mass protest commits an illegal act.

Many Americans are worried about what this means for freedom of assembly in the US. So on today’s episode we’re going to be talking a little bit about this case but also more broadly look at whether the US and The West is experiencing democratic backsliding.

We speak to Peter Beattie, Political Economist & Political Psychologist, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

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