Inclusive Representation and Perceived Democratic Performance under Democratic Backsliding : Evidence from a Full-factorial Experiment in Hungary

Papp, Zsófia (2026) Inclusive Representation and Perceived Democratic Performance under Democratic Backsliding : Evidence from a Full-factorial Experiment in Hungary. DEMOCRATIZATION. pp. 1-23. ISSN 1351-0347

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Abstract

This study investigates how perceived political representation shapes evaluations of democratic performance in a polarized, backsliding context. Using a survey experiment in Hungary (n=1,005), the research moves beyond the traditional winner–loser framework to analyze how the representational status of both government and opposition voters jointly influences perceived democratic quality. The findings reveal that evaluations depend heavily on representational balance: respondents rate democracy highest when both blocs feel represented and lowest when neither does. Perceptions of opposition representation emerge as a primary driver of quality ratings, highlighting the salience of partisan inclusion for democratic assessments. While evaluations are filtered through in-group interests – with opposition supporters particularly sensitive to their own exclusion – pluralist benchmarks remain detectable across the partisan divide. These results indicate that even in a backsliding regime, citizens anchor evaluations of democracy in pluralistic criteria.

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