[SydPhil] INVITATION: Book launch of Poland's Constitutional Breakdown (author: Wojciech Sadurski) | 5 June

[Kevin Walton]

Sydney Law School
Book launch



We invite you to the book launch of Wojciech Sadurski's latest book, Poland's Constitutional Breakdown.

Poland's Constitutional Breakdown

Since 2015, Poland's populist Law and Justice Party (PiS) has been dismantling the major checks and balances of the Polish state and subordinating the courts, the civil service, and the media to the will of the executive. Political rights have been radically restricted, and the Party has captured the entire state apparatus. The speed and depth of these antidemocratic movements took many observers by surprise: until now, Poland was widely regarded as an example of a successful transitional democracy.

Poland's anti-constitutional breakdown poses three questions that this book sets out to answer: What, exactly, has happened since 2015? Why did it happen? And what are the prospects for a return to liberal democracy? These answers are formulated against a backdrop of current worldwide trends towards populism, authoritarianism, and what is sometimes called 'illiberal democracy'. As this book argues, the Polish variant of 'illiberal democracy' is an oxymoron. By undermining the separation of powers, the PiS concentrates all power in its own hands, rendering any democratic accountability illusory. There is, however, no inevitability in these anti-democratic trends: this book considers a number of possible remedies and sources of hope, including intervention by the European Union.

Information about the book<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/RUyWC0YZWVFwGLVNSwo54D?domain=global.oup.com>

Helen Irving will launch the book.


5pm, Wednesday 5 June (canapes & drinks will be served)
Faculty Common Room<https://sydney.edu.au/law/about/location-and-facilities.html> - Level 4

New Law School Building (F10)

The University of Sydney Law School

RSVP: Please email law.events at sydney.edu.au<mailto:law.events at sydney.edu.au> by Monday 3 June. Please advise of any special dietary requirements.
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