Understanding the Intuitive Foundations of Democratic Norms and Procedures

The role of democratic intuitions in support for democracy
We are witnessing a resurgence of democratic backsliding, where democratically elected leaders erode certain democratic norms while maintaining public approval. It is vital to understand why some norms are more recognised and supported than others. Surprisingly, existing literature on democratic support has largely overlooked these variations. The ERC-funded INFODEM project is exploring democratic norms through the lens of moral psychology. It asserts that when moral intuitions align with democratic principles, people are more supportive of democratic processes. The project will conduct experiments and a comparative study across 30 countries and develop an application designed to educate citizens about democracy, starting in Hungary. The findings will help address challenges facing democracies and support efforts to strengthen them.