"My thesis, “Snakes in the Grass: The Law and Justice Party and Supranational Solutions to Illiberalism in the EU,” studies the rise of Poland’s governing party, the illiberal, right-wing populist Law and Justice Party, and its conflictual relationship with the EU. The Law and Justice Party has taken actions that weaken the EU’s image as a club of liberal democracies, passing laws that undermine judicial independence, freedom of the press, minority and individual rights. The party has argued that the EU cannot intervene in Poland’s internal affairs, despite that Poland’s member state status obliges it to uphold EU laws and values.
The supranational framework intended to prevent backsliding in member states, Article 7 of the Treaties of the EU, has proven toothless. Its requirement of unanimity continues to be blocked by Poland and Hungary, governed also by a right-wing illiberal party.
The party's view of the European Union, which it calls ""Euro-realism,"" considers the EU a ""union of sove
