Brandmauer Spezial: Merz und die AfD

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.

In this book, Daniel Ziblatt examines the role of conservative parties in the democratization of Europe. He argues that the stability of democratic systems depended significantly on how conservative parties, traditionally defenders of power and privilege, adapted to and interacted with the rise of democratic movements. The book contrasts the 'settled' path of democratization in countries like Britain, where strong and well-organized conservative parties facilitated democratic transition, with the 'unsettled' path in countries like Germany, where weak conservative parties contributed to democratic instability. Ziblatt's analysis is based on rich historical and quantitative evidence, offering a major reinterpretation of European history and its implications for modern democracies.