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Backsliding

Backsliding is the act of reverting to previous, often undesirable, behaviors, habits, or states, particularly in moral, religious, or ethical contexts. Historically rooted in religious terminology, it commonly describes a lapse in or moral conduct, such as or similar concepts in other religions. In modern usage, the term extends to secular areas like (e.g., in recovery) and , where it notably refers to democratic backsliding. Democratic backsliding, also known as democratic erosion, refers to the state-led debilitation or elimination of political institutions that sustain an existing , often driven by the actions of organized domestic political actors who hollow out democratic norms, processes, and practices. This phenomenon typically involves gradual, incremental changes rather than abrupt coups, allowing elected leaders to undermine checks and balances while maintaining a veneer of electoral legitimacy. Since the mid-2000s, democratic backsliding has emerged as a global trend, affecting over two dozen countries, particularly emerging democracies in the Global South, , and former communist states, though established democracies like the have also shown signs of as of 2025. Key forms include democratic , characterized by slow targeting of institutions such as the or organizations (e.g., under since 2010); democratic breakdown, involving rapid attacks like media shutdowns or party bans (e.g., since 2021); and autocratic deepening, where authoritarian controls are entrenched post- (e.g., since 2013). Drivers of backsliding are multifaceted and often leader-centric, including grievance-fueled illiberalism where politicians exploit societal anxieties to dismantle (e.g., ); opportunistic by leaders prioritizing personal power (e.g., ); and by entrenched interests like the military reclaiming control (e.g., Myanmar's 2021 coup). Contrary to common misconceptions, backsliding frequently occurs amid stable or improving economic conditions rather than solely due to socioeconomic failures, sustained instead by electoral manipulation, media control, and the suppression of horizontal (inter-branch), vertical (electoral), and diagonal () accountability mechanisms. Responses to this trend emphasize international disincentives for backsliding leaders, bolstering resilient institutions, and tailored strategies to counter specific patterns of erosion.

Definitions and Overview

General Definition

Backsliding refers to the act or process of reverting to a previous state, typically one viewed as less desirable or regressive, such as abandoning advancements made toward a personal, behavioral, or systemic goal. This reversion often involves a lapse in standards or momentum, where an entity—whether an individual, group, or —returns to earlier patterns after a period of improvement or . The term emphasizes a backward movement that undermines prior progress, contrasting sharply with concepts of steady advancement or sustained development. Key characteristics of backsliding include its potential to unfold gradually through incremental slips or abruptly via a single event, and it can stem from deliberate choices or unintended circumstances. Unlike forward progression, which builds on achievements to foster growth, backsliding disrupts this trajectory by reintroducing outdated or counterproductive elements, often leading to a perceived loss of ground. This dynamic highlights the fragility of change, where external pressures or internal lapses can prompt a return to familiarity, even if it hinders long-term objectives. The concept's universality is evident in neutral scenarios, such as , where someone striving for healthier routines might backslide by resuming sedentary behaviors after initial successes. Such examples illustrate backsliding as a common human experience, applicable beyond any single to any involving effortful change. Backsliding differs from related terms like , which is more narrowly associated with and , denoting a specific to substance use or symptomatic behaviors after . In contrast, backsliding encompasses a wider range of reversions not limited to contexts. It is also related to but distinct in nuance from , which generally connotes a passive, ongoing degradation through persistent external forces, such as the gradual weakening of materials or norms, whereas backsliding implies a more active reversion to a prior state. In specialized fields like , backsliding can manifest as the regression of established principles.

Etymology and Historical Usage

The term "backsliding" originates as a compound derived from the "backslide," formed by combining the adverb "back," meaning "backwards" or "in reversal," with the "slide," denoting a slip or glide. The element "back" traces to bæc or on bæc, implying a return to a previous position or state, while "slide" stems from slidan, rooted in Proto-Germanic slidanan and Proto-Indo-European sleidh-, both connoting slippage or smooth movement. The "backslide" first appears in English in the late , around 1581, in a by James Bell, and the "backsliding" is recorded slightly earlier in 1554 in the writings of , a Scottish reformer, where it describes a lapse or deviation in conduct. Its early metaphorical use was influenced by biblical translations rendering Hebrew terms like meshuvah (turning back) in contexts of , such as in the . Early recorded uses of "backsliding" in 16th-century and sermons primarily employed the term in or ethical senses, referring to a or faltering from a prior standard of behavior, often in the context of personal or communal duty. For instance, in Knox's epistles from 1554, it evokes a sense of turning away from ethical commitments amid religious and upheaval in . By the , the word had evolved from any potential literal connotations of physical slipping backward—rooted in the mechanics of "slide"—to a fully metaphorical usage denoting or , as seen in allegorical works like John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), where it illustrates a character's deviation from their path. This metaphorical shift facilitated broader applications beyond individual ethics; in early political tracts, such as those by in the 1650s, "backsliding" described national or institutional from reformist ideals, marking an extension into secular commentary on governance and societal progress.

Religious Contexts

Backsliding in

In , backsliding refers to a believer's from a committed , often involving a return to sinful patterns or spiritual apathy, as depicted in several key biblical passages. The term originates primarily from the , where it describes Israel's repeated unfaithfulness to God; for instance, 3:6 portrays "backsliding Israel" as engaging in and moral infidelity, likening the nation's breach to spiritual adultery. Similarly, Proverbs 14:14 warns that "the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways," emphasizing the self-inflicted consequences of turning inward from divine guidance. In the , 6:4-6 addresses a more severe form of backsliding, describing those who have "been enlightened, have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the " but then "fall away," stating it is impossible to renew them to as they crucify Christ anew. These verses collectively frame backsliding as either a gradual reversion to sin or outright , a deliberate abandonment of . Theological interpretations of backsliding vary across Christian traditions, particularly regarding its implications for salvation. In Protestantism, views diverge along Arminian and Calvinist lines: Arminians hold that genuine believers can apostatize through persistent backsliding, potentially forfeiting , as free will allows for the possibility of final rejection of . In contrast, Calvinists maintain that true believers may experience temporary backsliding due to sin but will persevere to the end, secured by God's , viewing severe as evidence of never having been truly regenerated. Catholic theology interprets backsliding as a slide into , which severs one's relationship with God and risks eternal loss unless repented through sacramental confession, emphasizing the need for ongoing cooperation with divine to maintain justification. Eastern Orthodox perspectives emphasize backsliding as a potential deviation in the process of theosis (divinization), the ongoing union with God, where falling away from faith as described in 6:4-6 may harden the heart, but recovery remains possible through , prayer, and the Church's mysteries, underscoring communal restoration. Historical examples of backsliding appear throughout , illustrating collective and individual regressions. The "falling away" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is interpreted by some as a foretold before Christ's return, with early like warning of future moral and doctrinal corruptions, including Gnostic influences and the rise of the , amid ongoing persecutions that tested faith. During the , figures like and issued stark warnings against backsliding amid moral lapses in the medieval Church, such as clerical corruption and indulgences, portraying the era's spiritual decline as a call for personal and institutional to revive authentic piety. The consequences of backsliding include divine discipline, spiritual barrenness, and, in some interpretations, eternal separation from God, while remedies center on and reliance on . Biblically, backsliders face God's corrective chastening, as 2:19 declares, "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee," leading to conviction and potential restoration if heeded. In cases of unrepented , outcomes may involve a hardened heart unable to return, per 6:6, though most traditions affirm that God's enables recovery for the truly contrite through , , and renewed obedience. Protestant sources stress that even in backsliding, the prompts , ensuring no permanent loss for the , while Catholic and views highlight sacramental aids like to realign the soul with .

Backsliding in Non-Christian Religions

In , the concept of backsliding manifests as mumar, denoting an individual who rebels against or neglects observance, often categorized in literature as mumar le-te'avon (apostasy for personal gain, such as appetite or convenience) or mumar le-hakh'is (to provoke or spite the community). The , particularly in tractates like 26b, provides examples of spiritual relapse, such as a Jew publicly violating laws, which undermines communal trust and invites marit ayin—the prohibition against actions that create the appearance of wrongdoing, even if technically permissible, to prevent others from straying. These texts emphasize reversion not merely as personal failing but as a communal threat, requiring measures like to preserve collective adherence to halakhah. In modern , such reversion is viewed more leniently, prioritizing individual autonomy and ethical living over strict ritual observance, with seen as a personal choice rather than grounds for exclusion. In , backsliding is encapsulated by riddah (), referring to the reversion from () to kufr (disbelief), which classical scholars interpret as a profound spiritual and communal betrayal. The addresses this in 2:217, stating that those who apostatize after embracing render their deeds void in both worldly and contexts, underscoring the gravity of abandoning the faith community. Juridical views, drawn from and , historically prescribe repentance periods before severe penalties, viewing riddah as disrupting the ummah's unity rather than solely an individual . Contemporary reformist interpretations, influenced by thinkers like those in modernist movements, challenge punitive approaches, advocating religious freedom and arguing that apostasy warrants no worldly punishment, focusing instead on personal accountability to . Hinduism conceptualizes backsliding as a lapse from dharma (righteous duty) or regression in spiritual practice, often framed as adharma (unrighteousness) that perpetuates samsara. The (6:37–45) directly addresses failures in , where questions the fate of one who falters due to unsteady mind; Krishna reassures that such individuals, having accumulated merit, are reborn in prosperous, pious families to resume their path, emphasizing karma's continuity over permanent loss. This highlights an individual-oriented reversion, tied to personal ethical and meditative discipline rather than communal judgment. Reform movements like the in the 19th century reinterpreted aspects of to combat ritual excesses, promoting rational ethics and social equality to counter societal tendencies toward superstition. In , backsliding involves relapse in meditative or ethical practice, leading to renewed entanglement in samsara—the driven by ignorance and attachment—without formal doctrines due to its non-theistic framework. Texts like the describe the five hindrances, such as or sloth-torpor, as causes of regression in practice, where practitioners may temporarily lose focus but can recommence through renewed effort, as the path allows iterative progress toward nirvana. Unlike communal excommunications, this emphasizes individual mindfulness and karma, with lapses viewed as natural fluctuations addressable via vipassana or metta practices. Modern interpretations in movements like stress gentle re-engagement after setbacks, fostering resilience without guilt. Comparatively, and treat backsliding as a communal concern, with reversion threatening social cohesion and warranting collective safeguards, whereas and prioritize individual karmic consequences and personal recovery, reflecting diverse emphases on ritual interdependence versus solitary . These notions parallel Christian backsliding in denoting moral or spiritual reversion but diverge in doctrinal mechanisms and responses.

Political Contexts

Democratic Backsliding

Democratic backsliding refers to the state-led debilitation or elimination of political institutions that sustain an existing , often occurring through gradual, incremental processes rather than abrupt coups. This erosion typically involves the dismantling of checks and balances, weakening of the , and curtailment of , manifesting in mechanisms such as executive aggrandizement—where leaders expand their power at the expense of other branches of government—election manipulation through or voter suppression, and media suppression via control of public broadcasters or harassment of independent journalists. Scholars identify three primary types: grievance-fueled illiberalism driven by populist appeals to societal resentments, opportunistic exploiting institutional vulnerabilities during crises, and entrenched-interest that solidifies power through legal reforms. These processes reduce political and erode democratic norms without necessarily eliminating elections, leading to a shift from liberal to . Prominent historical and contemporary examples illustrate these dynamics. In , since the 2010 election of Viktor Orbán's party, backsliding has involved constitutional amendments that centralized executive authority, packed courts with loyalists, and restricted freedom, transforming the country into a . Similarly, in , the (PiS) government from 2015 to 2023 pursued judicial reforms that undermined court independence, alongside efforts to control public and electoral processes, prompting EU sanctions for rule-of-law violations. In the United States, post-2016 developments under the administration included attacks on electoral integrity, such as unfounded claims of voter fraud leading to the , 2021, assault, and pressures on institutions like the Justice Department, contributing to and institutional strain. Globally, the V-Dem Institute's 2025 Democracy Report documents 25 years of autocratization, with autocracies outnumbering democracies (91 versus 88) for the first time in over two decades, as backsliding deepens in 42 countries and spreads to 22 more since 2019. Key causes of democratic backsliding include rising , , and , often exacerbated by leaders who exploit crises to consolidate power. Populism fuels illiberalism by framing opponents as elites betraying "the people," enabling attacks on independent institutions. amplifies this by eroding mutual toleration among political actors, while economic inequality—measured by Gini coefficients—correlates strongly with democratic erosion, as it heightens grievances and support for authoritarian-leaning leaders. For instance, a cross-national study found that a one-standard-deviation increase in raises the probability of backsliding by 15-20%, particularly in contexts of socioeconomic underperformance. The consequences of backsliding include transitions to hybrid regimes—where elections persist but lack fairness—or full , resulting in diminished and increased repression. Freedom House's 2025 report records declines in 60 countries, with sharp drops in political rights scores for nations like and , signaling broader instability and with only 20% of the world's population living in countries rated Free. These shifts foster political disorder, as hybrid regimes co-opt opposition through manipulated institutions, leading to entrenched and societal divisions.

Other Political Applications

In , backsliding extends beyond democratic contexts to include autocratic deepening, where established authoritarian regimes reverse limited reforms and entrench greater control over society and institutions. This process differs from democratic backsliding, which involves the gradual erosion of democratic norms in or democratic systems, by focusing instead on the intensification of repressive mechanisms within already autocratic frameworks, often through legal manipulations and suppression of . According to the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, autocratization in autocracies—termed regression or deepening—manifests as declines in electoral fairness, , and , contrasting with the institutional erosion emphasized in democratic cases. A prominent example of autocratic deepening occurred in following the 2011–2012 protests against , after which President implemented measures to consolidate power, including laws designating non-governmental organizations receiving foreign funding as "foreign agents" and expanding restrictions on public assemblies. These actions marked a shift from relative openness in the early to a more mature authoritarian system by the mid-2010s, with further intensification after the 2022 invasion of through crackdowns on opposition and media. Similarly, in under since 2013, autocratic deepening has involved the dismantling of remaining checks on executive power, such as purging the judiciary and electoral council, transforming a into a closed amid and international isolation. V-Dem data indicates Venezuela's index fell sharply from 0.3 in 2012 to near zero by , reflecting this entrenchment. Policy backsliding refers to the reversal of commitments in specific domains like and , often driven by shifts in domestic priorities or leadership changes, independent of broader regime type. In , this can include rollbacks on protections for marginalized groups or international obligations; for instance, several countries have withdrawn support for UN mechanisms or enacted discriminatory laws amid rising . On environmental commitments, the ' withdrawal from the in 2017 under President exemplified such backsliding, prioritizing national economic interests over global climate goals, though partial reversal occurred with rejoining in 2021 before another exit in January 2025. This action undermined collective efforts to limit , with V-Dem noting associated declines in indices during these periods. In , diplomatic backsliding involves the erosion or breakdown of alliances and cooperative frameworks, leading to reversals in multilateral integration. , formalized in 2020, represented a significant backsliding in integration, as the United Kingdom's departure fragmented economic, security, and diplomatic ties that had deepened over decades, resulting in a 15% drop in UK-EU trade by 2025 and reduced British influence on continental policy. Despite efforts at a "reset" through the May 2025 UK-EU summit, ongoing disputes over trade barriers and regulatory alignment have perpetuated this reversal, highlighting challenges in restoring pre- cooperation. Such instances overlap briefly with democratic backsliding through shared populist tactics that frame international commitments as threats to .

Other Uses

In Psychology and Addiction Recovery

In psychology, backsliding refers to the reversion to maladaptive behaviors or thought patterns after a period of progress toward healthier functioning, often manifesting as a temporary or partial in behavioral change efforts. This concept is closely tied to theories of , where individuals experience internal conflict between their actions and beliefs, leading to a return to familiar but harmful , and habit formation models that emphasize the persistence of entrenched neural pathways despite intentional change. A seminal framework for understanding this process is Prochaska and DiClemente's (TTM), which outlines stages of change—precontemplation, , , , and —wherein backsliding commonly occurs during the maintenance stage as slips or relapses interrupt sustained progress. In the context of addiction recovery, backsliding is frequently equated with , defined as the resumption of substance use following a period of , and is a recognized feature of 12-step programs such as (), where it is viewed as a setback rather than a complete failure, prompting renewed commitment to . According to the (NIDA), relapse rates for substance use disorders range from 40% to 60% within the first year of , comparable to relapse rates in other chronic conditions like or , underscoring addiction's status as a relapsing disease. These rates highlight the cyclical nature of recovery, where multiple episodes of backsliding are common before achieving long-term stability. Common causes of backsliding in include environmental triggers, such as exposure to substance cues or high-risk social settings, and interpersonal stressors like negative mood, anxiety, or interpersonal conflicts, which can overwhelm coping mechanisms and reactivate cravings. Prevention strategies focus on building through evidence-based interventions, including , which equips individuals with skills to identify and reframe high-risk thoughts and behaviors, and mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP), an adaptation of that reduces reactivity to triggers by fostering present-moment awareness. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that MBRP, when integrated with standard care, significantly lowers risk to heavy substance use compared to treatment as usual, with participants showing sustained reductions in use over 12 months. Research on substance use disorders illustrates patterns of multiple backslides as normative in trajectories; for instance, longitudinal studies indicate that individuals often require several quit attempts, with rates exceeding 70% in the initial s, before attaining sustained , emphasizing the importance of viewing these episodes as learning opportunities rather than defeats. In , a specific domain of , cohort studies reveal that approximately 76.7% of quitters within six months, often due to stress-induced lapses, yet those who endure multiple relapses develop stronger coping strategies, leading to higher long-term success rates of around 23% maintenance after repeated efforts. These findings from research reinforce that backsliding is not indicative of personal failure but a predictable in the iterative process of .

In Everyday and Secular Language

In everyday language, backsliding describes the act of reverting to previous undesirable behaviors or states after a period of improvement, often in contexts of or professional endeavors. In literature and discussions, it commonly refers to lapses in formation, such as abandoning a consistent exercise routine or succumbing to unhealthy eating after initial progress toward goals. For instance, individuals might describe "backsliding" when they skip workouts or return to sedentary habits despite earlier commitments to physical . Similarly, in settings, the term applies to project delays where teams revert to outdated processes after implementing efficiency improvements, as seen in management practices where gains are lost without sustained reinforcement. It can also denote ethical slips, where companies weaken commitments to or corporate responsibility, allowing short-term priorities to erode long-term standards. Culturally, backsliding appears in media portrayals of characters who regress into old vices, highlighting themes of human frailty and the illusion of permanent change. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's , figures like and revert to patterns of excess and moral compromise, underscoring the ' critique of fleeting progress amid societal decadence. Such depictions extend to films and literature where protagonists falter in their quests for redemption, reinforcing narratives of cyclical failure over linear advancement. On platforms through 2025, the term surfaces in casual posts about personal setbacks, often in fitness or productivity communities, where users share memes or anecdotes about "backsliding" into or overindulgence, framing it as a relatable hurdle in daily life. The concept of backsliding perpetuates societal notions of as an unbroken trajectory, particularly within self-improvement and capitalist cultures that equate reversion with and demand constant optimization. This framing can foster guilt and , as any setback is pathologized rather than normalized as part of , contributing to a broader cultural intolerance for imperfection. In , the term carries a strong emphasis on personal , aligning with individualistic values that prioritize in overcoming lapses, whereas in collectivist languages or cultures, equivalents may communal support to prevent , viewing it less as solitary defeat and more as shared . Derived loosely from religious notions of lapse, its secular underscores these modern tensions without doctrinal ties.

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