The Oxford Handbook of Illiberalism Marlene Laruelle (ed.) https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197639108.001.0001 Published: 2023 Online ISBN: 9780197639139 Print ISBN: 9780197639108 Search in this book CHAPTER https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197639108.013.15 Published: 22 February 2024 Abstract Keywords: political economy, democratic backsliding, neoliberalism, globalization, Europe Subject: Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Political Institutions, Politics Series: Oxford Handbooks Collection: Oxford Handbooks Online Political Economy of Illiberalism Maria Snegovaya This chapter discusses the role of economic factors in the rise of illiberal politics in today’s world. Unlike similar studies on this topic, it expands the focus beyond the “usual suspects,” such as populist, nativist, or far-right parties to also include the illiberal ideas, movements, and thought collectives in the conceptualization of illiberal actors driving this wave of democratic backsliding. Such an approach is arguably more instrumental in tracing how and when the ongoing backlash originated before illiberal parties and politicians had a chance to come to power. This chapter seeks to explore today’s illiberal wave by analyzing the role of economic factors such as accumulated frustration with the eects of neoliberalism, nancial crises, and globalization. It also analyzes the economic policies embraced by incumbent illiberal parties and leaders. While focusing primary attention on Europe, it also traces parallels across countries’ trajectories in dierent regional contexts, including Asia and Latin America. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/55211/chapter/441368628 by OUP-Reference Gratis Access user on 22 February 2024