De-democratising political representation: the impact of violence against politicians

Violence against politicians (VAP) is on the rise. Complementing extant scholarship on the impact of violence on politicians, this article shifts focus to its effects on the democratic quality of political representation. Based on interview data ( N = 24) with politicians in Belgium, we identify three mechanisms – silencing, invisibilising and exiting – that are triggered by VAP and that reduce the democratic quality of representation by making it less inclusive, responsive and egalitarian. Our analysis of an original survey ( N = 212) shows that these mechanisms affect all Belgian politicians but seem to disproportionately impact women, minority ethnic people and young people in certain respects. Since these are groups for whom enhancing political representation is a key ‘democratising’ strategy for enacting political equality, we conclude that VAP ‘de-democratises’ political representation.