

#597
Mentioned in 31 episodes
How Democracies Die
Book • 2018
In this book, Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt examine the breakdown of democracies, arguing that modern democracies do not die in a sudden coup but rather through the slow erosion of critical institutions and political norms.
Drawing on decades of research and examples from 1930s Europe to contemporary cases in Hungary, Turkey, Venezuela, and the American South during Jim Crow, the authors highlight the importance of mutual toleration and forbearance in maintaining democratic stability.
They identify key indicators of authoritarian behavior, such as the rejection of democratic rules, denial of opponents' legitimacy, tolerance of violence, and curtailment of civil liberties.
The book also discusses the role of political parties in defending democracy and proposes solutions to counteract democratic backsliding, including elite-level cooperation, addressing social inequalities, and restoring democratic norms.
Drawing on decades of research and examples from 1930s Europe to contemporary cases in Hungary, Turkey, Venezuela, and the American South during Jim Crow, the authors highlight the importance of mutual toleration and forbearance in maintaining democratic stability.
They identify key indicators of authoritarian behavior, such as the rejection of democratic rules, denial of opponents' legitimacy, tolerance of violence, and curtailment of civil liberties.
The book also discusses the role of political parties in defending democracy and proposes solutions to counteract democratic backsliding, including elite-level cooperation, addressing social inequalities, and restoring democratic norms.
Mentioned by



































Mentioned in 31 episodes
Mentioned by 

when introducing 

, referencing his co-authored book with Daniel Ziblatt.


Dave Davies


Stephen Levitsky

143 snips
America's Path To 'Competitive Authoritarianism'
Recommended by 

as a book that explains the Trump administration's playbook.


Anthony Scaramucci

114 snips
80. Trump's Totalitarian Playbook: War on Harvard
Mentioned by 

when discussing the fragility of democratic systems.


Ezra Klein

106 snips
How Algorithms, Money, & Bureaucracy Distance us from Democracy

Stefan Paas

64 snips
#236 - Amerika glijdt af en Europa staat op! (met Beatrice de Graaf en Stefan Paas)
Mentioned by 

when discussing competitive authoritarianism and the likelihood of the U.S. ending up in such a system.


Erica Chenoweth

58 snips
Protests, Political Violence and Its Alternatives with Erica Chenoweth
Mentioned by 

as one of his guests to discuss democratic backsliding.


Chris Hayes

50 snips
How Democratic Backsliding Happens with Steve Levitsky
Mentioned by 

as the author of "How Democracies Die", a New York Times bestseller, and co-author of "Tyranny of the Minority."


Max Fisher

45 snips
What Post-Democracy America Looks Like
Mentioned by Steven Levitsky, who co-authored it, as a possible misnomer, as dying is permanent but the book is not.

36 snips
Lessons From Hungary’s Democratic Backsliding. Plus, What Makes a Resistance Movement Successful?
Mentioned by 

as one of the books written by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, who are scholars of democratic backsliding.


Andrew Marantz

36 snips
How Bad Is It?: Trump’s War on Comedians
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as books co-authored by ![undefined]()

and Steven Levitsky.

Bethany McLean

Daniel Ziblatt

32 snips
How Big Money Changed The Democratic Game, with Daniel Ziblatt
Mentioned by 

as the co-author of "How Democracies Die", a book about how democracies can survive against authoritarian takeovers.


Rachel Maddow

20 snips
'This should be shocking': Judge torches Trump admin. for neglecting due process for deportees
Im Podcast erwähnt, im Zusammenhang mit der Diskussion über den Faschismus in den USA.

17 snips
Trumps USA – Sinkflug in den Faschismus
Erwähnt von 

zusammen mit Daniel Sieblatt im Zusammenhang mit der Zusammenarbeit konservativer Parteien mit Rechtsextremen und dem Zerfall von Demokratien.


Sascha Lobo

16 snips
Brandmauer Spezial: Merz und die AfD
Mentioned by 

in the introduction, highlighting ![undefined]()

’s work on authoritarianism.


Greg Sargent

Steven Levitsky

15 snips
Trump-Musk Threats Darken as Their Anger at Enemies Takes Ominous Turn
Mentioned by 

as a book that illustrates salami slicing in the context of democracies.


Tim Harford

15 snips
Inside the Bizarre World of Dictators
Mentioned by 

while discussing the impact of the Trump administration's actions on public health.


Jeremy Faust

14 snips
Episode 261 - Trump Attacks Healthcare
Aanbevolen door ![undefined]()

; vergelijkt hoe democratieën kunnen worden gered en verbeterd.

Björn Soenens

14 snips
Back to the future: de triomfantelijke terugkeer van Trump
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a bestseller among observers of the Trump era, analyzing how democracies fall.

Thomas Zimmer

13 snips
39. The Path to Authoritarianism
Mentioned by 

in the context of discussing books on democracy.


Jason Willick

524 | Jason Willick: Why the Resistance Failed to Stop Trump
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

, who read it prior to the podcast.

Sharon McMahon

Modern Democracy with Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky