In his new article for IGA, Massimo Flore explores the inherent fragility of democratic systems through the lens of recent political developments in Romania in the context of the presidential elections. The author discusses the complex challenges democracies face when anti-democratic movements operate within legal boundaries, emphasizing the “Intervention Dilemma” in democratic systems: balancing early intervention against political movements that threaten democratic foundations, while avoiding overreach.
Flore calls for both institutional safeguards and substantive policies to strengthen democratic resilience, warning that without measures that go beyond formal rules-based definitions and defenses, democracies may become hollow shells vulnerable to both internal extremism and external manipulation. The article serves as a timely reminder that democracies require constant vigilance and active protection to survive, particularly in an age of growing populism and external threats.