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How Democracies Die

Jan 29, 2018

Guest

Steven Levitsky

Guest

Daniel Ziblatt

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, co-authors of 'How Democracies Die', dive into the threats against democratic institutions today. They discuss how leaders can erode norms, using global examples, including Venezuela under Hugo Chavez. The conversation touches on historical parallels with authoritarian regimes, such as Hitler's rise, and the moral leadership needed to combat radicalism. Political polarization's impact on American democracy is examined alongside its effects on governance and trust, emphasizing the evolving challenges faced by political parties amidst rising partisanship.

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Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 6min

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The Erosion of Democracy: A Case Study from Venezuela

05:51 • 4min

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Lessons from Authoritarianism: Historical Parallels

10:21 • 9min

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Political Polarization and Democracy

19:38 • 9min

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The Evolution of American Political Polarization

28:18 • 23min

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The Evolving Landscape of American Political Parties

51:07 • 4min

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Political Dynamics and Democratic Integrity

54:54 • 20min

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Exploring Literature's Reflection on Democracy and Politics

01:15:02 • 4min

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How to Change

The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Katy Milkman

In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.

How Democracies Die

Steven Levitsky

Daniel Ziblatt

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.

The Oppermanns

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Lion Feuchtwanger

The Oppermanns is a powerful novel that portrays the experiences of a Jewish family in Berlin during the early years of Nazi rule, offering a poignant depiction of the erosion of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism.

Political order in changing societies

Political order in changing countries

Samuel P. Huntington

In this book, Huntington critiques modernization theory by arguing that political decay is as likely as political development. He emphasizes that social mobilization and economic growth do not necessarily lead to stable, democratic political systems. Instead, he stresses the importance of the development of political institutions in relation to the mobilization of new social forces into politics. Huntington argues that without strong political institutions, modernization can lead to instability and political decay, a concept he terms 'praetorianism. ' The book highlights the need for order in developing societies, independent of whether that order is democratic, authoritarian, socialist, or free-market.

Finite and infinite games

James P. Carse

In this book, James P. Carse distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games are instrumental activities with clear rules, boundaries, and winners, such as sports, politics, and wars. Infinite games, on the other hand, are authentic interactions that aim to continue the play, changing rules and boundaries as needed. Carse explores how these concepts apply to various aspects of life, including culture, religion, sexuality, and self-discovery. He argues that finite games offer wealth, status, and power, while infinite games provide something more subtle and grander, such as true freedom and endless possibility. The book offers insights into how approaching life as either a finite or infinite game affects one's choices, satisfaction, and success.

The Path to Power

The Years of Lyndon Johnson I

Robert A. Caro

This book retraces Lyndon Johnson's early life, from his childhood in the impoverished Texas Hill Country to his early years in Washington, D.C. , first as a congressional aide and then as a congressman. It explores Johnson's relentless ambition, his ability to mesmerize and manipulate powerful figures, and his complex relationships with family, contemporaries, and influential politicians like Sam Rayburn and FDR. The book also delves into Johnson's secret love affairs and his strategic cultivation of wealthy and powerful allies. Caro's exhaustive research and immersive writing style provide a vivid portrait of Johnson's formative years and the environment that shaped his political career.

The shaping of Southern politics

Suffrage Restriction and the Establishment of the One-Party South, 1880-1910

J. Morgan Kousser

This book by J. Morgan Kousser examines the transformation of the Southern political system from the post-Reconstruction era to the early 20th century. It focuses on how suffrage restrictions, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses, contributed to the establishment of a one-party system in the South. The work is based on a thorough analysis of election data and historical context, providing insights into the political and social changes of the period.

The year is young, but Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt’s How Democracies Die is going to be one of its most important books. It will be read as a commentary on Donald Trump, which is fair enough, because the book is, in part, a commentary on Donald Trump. But it deserves more than that. It is more than that. How Democracies Die is three books woven together. One summarizes acres of research on how democracies tumble into autocracy. The second is an analysis of the troubling conditions under which American democracy thrived and the reasons it has entered into decline. The third book is a fretful tour of Trump’s first year in office, and the ways in which his instincts and actions mirror those of would-be autocrats before him. Of these, the book about Donald Trump is the least interesting, and so in this interview, I didn’t focus on it. Instead, this is a discussion about how modern democracies fall, and the ways in which American democracy has been creeping towards crisis for decades now. Viewed this way, Trump is much more a symptom of our democratic decline than its cause. So let's talk about the cause. Books and Articles Mentioned The Oppermanns by Lion Feuchtwanger The Shaping of Southern Politics: Suffrage Restriction and the Establishment of the One-Party South, 1880-1910 by J. Morgan. Kousser The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume 1) by Robert Caro Political Order in Changing Societies by Samuel P. Huntington (edited) Donald Matthews' book about the Senate in the 1950s Julia Azari's piece, Weak parties and strong partisanship are a bad combination: Rosenthal political polarization The webcomic Ezra mentioned, "Different" James Carse's book, Finite and Infinite Games

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