New Books in Political Science

How Democracies Die . . . and How They May Survive with Daniel Ziblatt

Feb 27, 2024

The podcast discusses the role of conservative parties in democracies like the UK and Germany, contrasting them with the US. It explores the need for institutional reform to strengthen democracy and highlights the importance of civil society mobilization in preserving democratic values.

42:05

Episode guests

Daniel Ziblatt

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Conservative parties' commitment to democracy stabilizes democracies.

Mobilizing civil society is crucial to preserve democracy and make it more resilient.

Deep dives

Comparing the Threat of Democratic Backsliding in the United States

The concern surrounding populism and democratic backsliding, particularly in the United States, is a significant global topic. Due to the US's immense power, uncertainties arise for both adversaries and allies. Comparisons are drawn between the US, other nations, and its historical challenges to discern its current situation and predict future democratic outcomes.

Introduction

2min

Analysis of 'How Democracies Die' and the State of American Democracy

4min

The Impact of Conservative Parties on Democracy

19min

American Constitutional System: Challenges and Reform

9min

Civil Society Mobilization for Democratic Endurance

6min

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University and co-author (with Steven Levitsky) of the bestsellers How Democracies Die (Crown, 2019) and The Tyranny of the Minority (Crown, 2023).

Ziblatt emphasizes the crucial role played by conservative parties that were committed to democracy in the United Kingdom and Germany and reflects on what makes democracy in the United States less prone to backsliding than these and other twentieth-century cases. Focusing on the arguments in The Tyranny of the Minority, Ziblatt discusses the need for profound change in American institutions to “democratize democracy” and make it more resilient. He stresses the vital importance of mobilizing civil society to preserve democracy, of which he sees optimistic signs in the recent American and German past.

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