Democratic norm violations during emergency and citizens’ evaluation of democracy : Results from a conjoint experiment in Hungary

Papp, Zsófia and Nkansah, Godfred Bonnah (2025) Democratic norm violations during emergency and citizens’ evaluation of democracy : Results from a conjoint experiment in Hungary. EAST EUROPEAN POLITICS. pp. 1-24. ISSN 2159-9165 (In Press)

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Abstract

This study examines how democratic norm violations during emergencies affect perceptions of democratic quality. Using a conjoint experiment with 1,000 Hungarian respondents, it tests tolerance for restrictions on accountability and civil liberties under varying health and economic conditions. Findings show that output legitimacy - especially pandemic effectiveness and economic performance - strongly influences democratic evaluations. However, tolerance for norm violations is conditional: freedoms of speech and assembly remain inalienable, while others are negotiable in crises. These results underscore the fragility of democratic support in backsliding regimes, highlighting the trade-offs citizens may accept between procedural integrity and effective governance.

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