Democracy Paradox

There's something natural and organic about perceiving that the people in power are out to advance their own interests. It's in part because it’s often true. Governments actually do keep secrets from the public. Politicians engage in scandals. There often is corruption at high levels. So, we don't want citizens in a democracy to be too trusting of their politicians. It's healthy to be skeptical of the state and its real abuses and tendencies towards secrecy. The danger is when this distrust gets redirected, not toward the state, but targets innocent people who are not actually responsible for people's problems.Scott RadnitzSupport Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.*Please note during the interview the host says "conspiracy" rather than "conspiracy theory." The transcript has been corrected.*Scott Radnitz is an associate professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the University of Washington and the director of the Ellison Center for Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies. He is the author of Revealing Schemes: The Politics of Conspiracy in Russia and the Post-Soviet Region and coeditor with Harris Mylonas of the forthcoming book Enemies Within: The Global Politics of Fifth Columns. His article “Why Democracy Fuels Conspiracy Theories” was recently published in the Journal of Democracy.Key HighlightsConspiracy theories Russia uses to justify their invasion of UkraineWhy Russia relies on conspiracy theories in its political rhetoricThe use of conspiracy theories in democracies and autocraciesThe recent proliferation of conspiracy theories in the United StatesHow to mitigate the harmful effects of conspiracy theories in politicsKey Links"Why Democracy Fuels Conspiracy Theories" by Scott Radnitz in Journal of DemocracyRevealing Schemes: The Politics of Conspiracy in Russia and the Post-Soviet Region by Scott RadnitzEnemies Within: The Global Politics of Fifth Columns edited by Harris Mylonas and Scott RadnitzDemocracy Paradox PodcastRonald Deibert from Citizen Lab on Cyber Surveillance, Digital Subversion, and Transnational RepressionMoisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political PowerMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

This bonus episode is part of a series of interviews available for monthly supporters of Democracy Paradox at Patreon. Other interviews feature guests like Julia Azari, Mila Atmos, and Bob Shrum. But more importantly you'll help the podcast cover important expenses and continue to grow. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter by clicking on the link here.If you want to help the podcast in other ways, please email the host, Justin Kempf, at jkempf@democracyparadox.com. Dan Banik is a professor of political science at the University of Oslo and Director of the Oslo SDG Initiative. He also hosts the podcast In Pursuit of Development. His podcast is among the most insightful on topics of democracy, modernization, and sustainability. Past guests have included Francis Fukuyama and Daron Acemoglu. But it's Dan's ability to help listeners understand complex ideas and subjects that sets his podcast apart. In Pursuit of Development Follow on Twitter @GlobalDevPod Follow Dan on Twitter @danbanik Support the show

So, if your aim is to get inside someone's device without their permission and gather up information, you could do that using a very sophisticated commercial spyware technology like Pegasus. The latest iteration of it employs zero click technology meaning that it can target and insert itself on any device without the owner of that device even knowing or being tricked into clicking on a link. That's very powerful, because there is no defense against it.Ronald DeibertA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Ronald Deibert is a professor of political science at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Citizen Lab. He recently gave the 18th annual Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture at the National Endowment for Democracy. Its title was “Digital Subversion: The Threat to Democracy.” His article, “Subversion Inc: The Age of Private Espionage” in the most recent Journal of Democracy is based on this lecture.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsHow Black Cube tried to infiltrate Citizen LabHow autocrats continue to repress political dissidents overseasThe privatization of espionage and spycraftThe link between surveillance capitalism and private espionageWhat liberal democracies can do to defend civil societyKey LinksCitizen LabSeymour Martin Lipset Lecture "Digital Subversion: The Threat to Democracy" by Ronald Deibert"Subversion Inc: The Age of Private Espionage" by Ronald Deibert in Journal of DemocracyDemocracy Paradox PodcastCan Democracy Survive the Internet? Nate Persily and Josh Tucker on Social Media and DemocracyWinston Mano on Social Media and Politics in Africa… And what America can Learn from Africa about DemocracyMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

Pure economic factors or technological factors or the level of economic development or level of technological development cannot explain the diversity of levels of inequality and structure of inequality that we observe throughout history.Thomas PikettyA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Thomas Piketty is Professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and the Paris School of Economics and Codirector of the World Inequality Lab. He is also the author of A Brief History of Equality.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsThe Case for Reparations for HaitiAn Account of the Historical Movement Toward Greater EqualityEconomic Inequality as a Political ConstructionShould Economic Equality be the Goal of the State?Is Thomas Piketty Optimistic for the Future?Key LinksA Brief History of Equality by Thomas PikettyCapital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas PikettyFollow Thomas Piketty on Twitter @PikettyLeMondeDemocracy Paradox PodcastJoseph Fishkin on the Constitution, American History, and Economic InequalityJacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican PartyMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

I heard a verified story of a person who made his way with his family from an occupied town listening to our broadcast, because we were telling them where it was dangerous for them to go and where it was more or less safe to go. So, radio actually saves lives. I probably cannot save lives otherwise. But I can with the help of radio.Andriy KulykovRecorded on April 19th, 2022.A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Marta Dyczok is an Associate Professor at the Departments of History and Political Science, Western University, Canada. She was the host of the podcast Ukraine Calling. Andriy Kulykov is co-founder and Chairperson of Hromadske Radio.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsA Short History of Hromadske RadioDo Journalists in Ukraine Consider Themselves Information WarriorsThe Importance of Media Literacy in a WarHow Radio Can Saved Lives in UkraineAndriy's Thoughts on Ukrainian IdentityKey LinksUkraine Calling: A Kaleidoscope from Hromadske Radio 2016–2019 edited by Marta DyczokListen to the Ukraine Calling PodcastLearn more about Hromadske RadioDemocracy Paradox PodcastBetween Russia and China: Anja Mihr on Central AsiaJoshua Yaffa on Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin’s RussiaMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

So, there's actually something about the basic mechanism of democracy that does make it harder to sustain diversity. In other ways, the principles of liberal democracy are the right solution. And so, obviously my vision for the future is that of a diverse democracy. But we shouldn't be at ease about the ways in which democracy can sometimes inflame ethnic and religious tensions as well.Yascha MounkA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Yascha Mounk is a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University and the founder of Persuasion. Mounk is also a contributing editor at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsIs a diverse democracy more democraticChallenges for diverse democraciesYascha's vision for diverse societiesThe most dangerous idea in American PoliticsIs it more difficult for diverse ideas to flourish?Key LinksThe Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure by Yascha  MounkRead more from Yascha Mounk at PersuassionFollow Yascha Mounk @Yascha_MounkDemocracy Paradox PodcastElisabeth Ivarsflaten and Paul Sniderman on Inclusion and Respect of Muslim MinoritiesSara Wallace Goodman on Citizen Responses to Democratic ThreatsMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

I think the revolutionary process has become somewhat less consequential in some ways. The ability to bring about substantive change in the wake of revolution has deteriorated for one thing. We've gained certain things as well. I mean, revolutions are no longer as violent as they once were. They're more frequent than they once were, almost more normal in terms of being part of the political landscape in a way that they were not in the past.Mark BeissingerA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Mark Beissinger is a professor of politics at Princeton University and the author of the new book The Revolutionary City: Urbanization and the Global Transformation of Rebellion.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsAn Account of the Orange Revolution in UkraineDescription of Urban Civic RevolutionsWhy are Revolutions more Successful than in the Past?Why are Revolutions Less Violent?How do Revolutions Continue to Change?Key LinksThe Revolutionary City: Urbanization and the Global Transformation of Rebellion by Mark BeissingerLearn more about Mark Beissinger at Princeton UniversityLearn more about Mark Beissinger at WikipediaDemocracy Paradox PodcastErica Chenoweth on Civil ResistanceGeorge Lawson on RevolutionMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

It's still shocking to me to read a lot of these documents and interviews in, The Afghanistan Papers, things that most people would think are obvious. What's the plan to end the war? What benchmarks do we have to achieve so that we know we can leave? You know, none of those things were thought out or articulated.Craig WhitlockA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Craig Whitlock is an investigative reporter at The Washington Post and the author of The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsWhen did the War in Afghanistan Go WrongThe Lies and Deception in Communications on the WarDifferences in the Approach to the War Between Bush and ObamaFailures to Provide a Long-Term Political SolutionLessons for Involvement in Ukraine and Beyond Key LinksThe Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War by Craig WhitlockAfghanistan Papers Document Database at The Washington Post"At War With Truth" by Craig WhitlockDemocracy Paradox PodcastJennifer Brick Murtazashvili and Ilia Murtazashvili on Afghanistan, Local Institutions, and Self-GovernanceKaren Greenberg on the War on Terror, Donald Trump, and American DemocracyMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

I have worked on voting issues for 35 years, for same-day registration and for opening up the process to younger people and preregistration, and, you know, nevertheless 35 years later we're still at 60 and 65%. 2020 was the highest turnout election ever and it was at 66%. So, I started to think what is it that could really, really move the needle and change the game.Miles RapoportA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a short review of 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting  here.Miles Rapoport is also the Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. He formerly served as secretary of the state of Connecticut.  He is the coauthor of the book 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting with E.J. Dionne.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsWhat is Civic Duty Voting?Why Should We Require Citizens to Vote?Is Voting a Right or a Duty?Australia's System of Civic Duty VotingHow Would it Change How Citizens Think About Themselves?Key Links100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting by Miles Rapoport and E.J. DionneLearn about Miles Rapoport at Harvard UniversityLift Every Voice: The Urgency of Universal Civic Duty Voting Democracy Paradox PodcastShari Davis Elevates Participatory BudgetingLee Drutman Makes the Case for Multiparty Democracy in AmericaMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show

Russia... will lose ground here in the region over the next decade and China will fill it, because the Europeans are not doing it. The United States is not doing it. Iran is not doing it and Turkey cannot do it either.Anja MihrA full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a short review of Between Peace and Conflict in the East and the West Studies on Transformation and Development in the OSCE Region  here.Anja Mihr is an associate professor of Political Science at the OSCE Academy at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and the founder and program director of the Center on Governance through Human Rights at the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA Governance Platform (gGmbH) in Berlin. Recently, she edited the volume Between Peace and Conflict in the East and the West Studies on Transformation and Development in the OSCE Region.Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key HighlightsHow do Central Asian countries feel about Russia's invasion of Ukraine?Differences and similarities between Central Asian nationsWhy has China become so influential in the region?Sadyr Japarov and his rise to powerWhat is Glocalism?Key LinksBetween Peace and Conflict in the East and the West: Studies on Transformation and Development in the OSCE Region  edited by Anja MihrLearn more about Anja MihrFollow Anja Mihr on Twitter @AnjaMihrDemocracy Paradox PodcastJennifer Brick Murtazashvili and Ilia Murtazashvili on Afghanistan, Local Institutions, and Self-GovernanceTimothy Frye Says Putin is a Weak StrongmanMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationDemocracy GroupApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox100 Books on DemocracySupport the show