Nationalism Outlives Authoritarian Leaders

Electoral defeat of a personalized, authoritarian ruler often removes a face but not the political project: nationalist identity, client networks, and institutional capture can persist and reconfigure under new banners. That means voting a leader out does not automatically restore liberal norms; the civic work of rebuilding institutions and changing incentives matters as much as the election result. — Highlights that democratic turnover is necessary but not sufficient to reverse authoritarian governance, shaping post‑election reform priorities across Europe and other democracies.