According to Daxecker, democracy is a good safeguard against large-scale political violence, such as war, oppression, or genocide. Within democracies, various accountability groups can prevent governments from using extreme violence, which is a reason to cherish democracy.

At the same time, democratic institutions fail to limit other forms of violence, such as attacks on minorities or the electoral process. Sometimes this happens because politicians pretend to follow democratic rules, but in the meantime, they still use political violence out of the public eye. 'In these cases, more democracy is the solution.'

In other cases, the extreme tendencies are a product of democracy itself, says Daxecker. Politicians use violence and extreme rhetoric to sharpen their political identity and to mobilize political support. This violence is not a symbol of political dysfunction, but this increase in polarization still undermines democracy. 'It's not a certainty,' says Daxecker, 'but the best solution to these tendencies is still building alternative, more moderate majorities.'

Prof. Daxecker, Professor of Political Science in the field of democracy and conflict: Democracy and Political Violence - Can Democracy Solve the Problem of Political Violence.

The inaugural lecture can be followed here.