David Kenny, a political science professor at Trinity College Dublin, dives into why democracies fail by analyzing lessons from the collapse of the Old Republic in Star Wars. The conversation explores the allure of authoritarianism and the pitfalls of military aesthetics in fantasy narratives. Kenny discusses the tensions of power dynamics, especially within the New Republic, and critiques the ethical dilemmas faced by fictional democracies like X-Men. The episode also emphasizes proactive leadership as essential for safeguarding democratic values against rising fascist threats.