Where Democracy Is Under Threat
Anti-establishment views can invigorate democracy by challenging stagnation and corruption, yet they become threats when they reject democratic institutions, legitimize violence, or deny electoral legitimacy.
For many commentators, “anti-system” political views pose a threat to democracy. However, this essentially depends on their content, form, and how they operate within the system. They are neither inherently good nor bad; they can be both.
The positive aspect of these views is renewal and the checking of power. Historically, many progressive changes began as “anti-system,” such as the expansion of individual rights, the fight against corruption, and the questioning of elites and the establishment.
In this sense, anti-system attitudes are necessary for democracy because they prevent stagnation, strengthen accountability, and give a voice to marginalized social groups. Alexis de Tocqueville’s reflection on the “tyranny of the majority” shows precisely why constant questioning is needed.
Of course, the negative side of this perspective is the delegitimization of institutions. The problem arises when anti-system views do not criticize specific policies but reject the democratic institutions altogether. This is where phenomena such as conspiracy theories, denial of election results, personality cults, and authoritarianism emerge.
Steven Levitsky, in his famous book How Democracies Die (2025), shows that democracies often do not fall by coups but by leaders who are elected and then undermine the rules themselves. The fundamental distinction is not really “system vs. anti-system” but democratic vs. anti-democratic.
An anti-system force is compatible with democracy when it accepts elections and the rotation of power. It also respects minority rights and always operates without violating the institutional framework.
However, it becomes dangerous when it regards the system as an “enemy to be destroyed,” legitimizes violence or authoritarianism, and refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of opponents.
In today’s era (marked by crises, inequalities, globalization), anti-system sentiment is increasing because many citizens feel unrepresented, and trust in institutions has diminished. The form that this questioning takes today determines whether it will become a solution or a threat.
Thus, anti-system views are necessary as a corrective force. Yet, they become dangerous when they turn into a rejection of democracy itself.
(Andreas Andrianopoulos’s book, War in Iran: Europe’s Tragic Failures, Epikentro, 2026) is available in bookstores.
First published on Newideas.gr
