Democratic backsliding and the populist challenge for public administration

Democratic backsliding is a threat to democracies around the world. While populist governments remain the exception in some European countries such as Germany, other established democracies have already gained extensive experience. With regard to the practices and processes of policy-making under populists in power, particular importance is given to public administration in the context of democratic backsliding, as the backsliding governments explicitly advance their illiberal agendas through the use of public services. Thus, public administration is conflicted: On the one hand, as a bureaucratic organisation, it is instrumentally obliged to the government. On the other hand, however, it can become complicit in democratic regressions that undermine the constitutional values to which it is also committed. This review provides an in-depth overview of the current state of knowledge in political science regarding the role of public administration regarding populist attacks as well as administrative reactions and resilience.