Bungacast /522/ At the Bottom of the Tar Pit ft. Benjamin Studebaker
10 snips
Nov 25, 2025 
Benjamin Studebaker, a political theorist and author, dives into the perplexing world of legitimacy crises in liberal democracies. He critiques 20th-century theories, questioning why contemporary politics feels so stuck. Studebaker discusses the challenges of achieving social consensus amidst deep pluralism, arguing that low legitimacy leads elites to risky policies. He highlights how alternative legitimacies like faith and fandom emerge as we face chronic crises. Is catastrophe the only way out? Join the conversation to explore these pressing issues!
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Legitimacy Beyond Revolt
- Legitimacy matters whenever decisions affect people who disagree, because they must be persuaded to comply.
- Studebaker argues low persuasion needn't cause revolt but can produce other sustained responses that shape politics.
The Embedded Democracy Trap
- 'Embedded democracy' narrows the imaginarium by tying identity to a long-standing system and discrediting alternatives.
- That embeddedness reduces the chance of regime-change and lets discontent spread into deeper pluralism.
Low Legitimacy As Elite Shield
- Low legitimacy creates security for elites because they're not disciplined by an imminent threat of revolution.
- This security enables risky or ill-disciplined policies that would be avoided under acute crisis.
