The Future of the European Court of Human Rights in the Era of Radical Democracy

Abstract

The values of the European Convention on Human Rights ('echr' or 'Convention'), which underpin the activity of the Council of Europe as a whole, are increasingly called into question, both at the European and at the global levels. The threats posed by terrorism, mass migration, nationalist rhetoric, populism and the rise of radical democracies1 have offered populism fertile ground to flourish. As a result, the defence of minority interests -which is inherent in the protection of fundamental rights -is under attack. Moreover, one cannot guarantee that the situation caused by covid-19 will not be used to further nationalistic and populist agendas -although the pandemic has also revealed humankind's global solidarity, prompting us to realise that the only possible way to fight this threat effectively is through co-operation.