Author: Ben Stanley | Journal of Democracy

Ben Stanley is associate professor at the Centre for the Study of Democracy, SWPS University, Warsaw. He is author, with Stanley Bill, of Good Change: The Rise and Fall of Poland’s Illiberal Revolution (2025).

July 2025, Volume 36, Issue 3

Democracy After Illiberalism: A Warning from Poland

Stanley Bill
Ben Stanley

Restoring liberalism after illiberalism is no easy task: Leaders face hard choices between acting quickly and effectively while maintaining a commitment to democratic procedure. Worse, their illiberal opponents stand to benefit either way.