The Gray Area with Sean Illing Fareed Zakaria on the fate of democracy
Jul 26, 2021
Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's GPS and author, discusses the alarming decline of democracy globally and its implications for the U.S. He identifies the Republican Party as an existential threat to democratic values. Zakaria explores American democracy's strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing its resilience amid rising populism. He highlights the media's role in reflecting societal issues and warns of the potential rise of a more strategic autocrat. Despite challenges, he shares a hopeful narrative about the younger generation's drive for a more equitable future.
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Episode notes
Fragile Order, Resilient US
- Political order is fragile, especially liberal order, as seen in Haiti's struggles compared to the Dominican Republic.
- The US has a resilient political order, being the oldest constitutional government.
Illiberal Democracy's Rise
- In 1997, Fareed Zakaria observed a rise in illiberal democracy, where elections existed but liberal principles were undermined.
- This was concerning because these countries lacked the culture to support constitutional liberalism.
India's Democratic Decline
- India is a worrying example of illiberal democracy due to its decline despite a historically strong democratic culture.
- Modi's regime has cleverly undermined constitutional liberalism, and there's a lack of pushback.
