Project summary
LIBRAD examines how populist governments seek to reshape executive governance and how bureaucracies react to illiberal demands under conditions of democratic backsliding. Concentrating on subnational governments across the European Union (EU), the project develops a new framework for analysing “executive governance,” combining macro‑institutional and meso‑organizational perspectives. It explores when populist rule deteriorates governance quality and when bureaucrats resist or comply with illiberal directives. The research integrates econometric evaluation, cross‑regional surveys, behavioural experiments, and elite interviews. LIBRAD’s theoretical innovation lies in developing a social‑interactionist account of bureaucratic behaviour that moves beyond individual rationality to emphasize peer‑group dynamics, moral obligation, and professional identity. The project aims to clarify how liberal administrations can sustain pluralism and accountability under illiberal rule and to inform broader debates on the resilience of democratic governance in Europe.
