The lecture will address the dismantling of democratic institutions in Poland since 2015, with particular emphasis on the attack on the independence of the judiciary. Poland was an example for Europe of a model transformation (after 1989) from communism to a system of liberal democracy and a market economy. It adopted a modern Constitution in 1997, joined the European Union in 2004, and has been successfully pursuing a process of rapid development, both in terms of building and strengthening democratic institutions and developing an infrastructure and raising the standard of living of its citizens.
The Polish example is an extremely interesting study of the rapid collapse of the rule of law and the simultaneous strong defense of it by society and the legal community. This is coupled with the precedent-setting application of European law and international institutions and courts to effectively counteract the erosion of the rule of law. The Polish example also shows that Europe and the world need new, even more effective mechanisms and instruments to defend themselves against populist attacks on democratic institutions