How Democracies Die
What's it about
Worried about the state of democracy today? Discover the unsettling truth that modern democracies no longer die in violent coups, but through a slow, quiet erosion from within. This summary reveals the warning signs and the playbook used by elected leaders to dismantle democratic institutions. You'll learn the crucial historical lessons and the two key norms—mutual toleration and institutional forbearance—that have protected democracies for centuries. Understand the specific threats facing us now and find out what you can do to recognize the dangers and help safeguard our future.
Meet the author
Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are Harvard University professors of government and leading scholars of democracy, political parties, and authoritarianism in Europe and Latin America. Their combined expertise, developed over decades of studying historical and contemporary cases, allowed them to identify the recurring patterns that signal a democracy's decline. This unique scholarly collaboration provides the powerful framework for understanding the threats facing democratic systems today, including the United States.
What's it about
Worried about the state of democracy today? Discover the unsettling truth that modern democracies no longer die in violent coups, but through a slow, quiet erosion from within. This summary reveals the warning signs and the playbook used by elected leaders to dismantle democratic institutions. You'll learn the crucial historical lessons and the two key norms—mutual toleration and institutional forbearance—that have protected democracies for centuries. Understand the specific threats facing us now and find out what you can do to recognize the dangers and help safeguard our future.
Meet the author
Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are Harvard University professors of government and leading scholars of democracy, political parties, and authoritarianism in Europe and Latin America. Their combined expertise, developed over decades of studying historical and contemporary cases, allowed them to identify the recurring patterns that signal a democracy's decline. This unique scholarly collaboration provides the powerful framework for understanding the threats facing democratic systems today, including the United States.
The Script
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