The Gist Fareed Zakaria on Revolutions, Backlashes, and the High Cost of Not Fixing Immigration
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Nov 20, 2025 
Fareed Zakaria, a prominent journalist and CNN host, dives into his book, The Age of Revolutions, exploring how recent globalization and AI compare to historical shifts. He argues that today's populist movements are largely fueled by immigration-driven cultural anxieties rather than economics. Zakaria warns about the erosion of democratic norms in the U.S. and highlights the need for disciplined political responses to manage backlash. He also reflects on his immigrant experience, emphasizing America's potential to successfully integrate diverse populations.
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Modern Changes Match Past Revolutions
- The last 30 years' globalization, AI, and cultural shifts rival past industrial revolutions in political impact.
- Such systemic change produces widespread political backlash and realigns societies' politics.
Disruption Breeds Political Upheaval
- Massive economic and social change repeatedly upends politics, producing ideologies like communism and fascism.
- Today's globalization and information-era shifts are producing comparable political instability.
Democracy Depends On Norms
- American democratic stability relies heavily on norms, not just written laws or institutions.
- Erosion of those norms, seen under Trump, makes the system more fragile than many realize.
