Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt, 'How Democracies Die'

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt discuss their book, "How Democracies Die", on 1/25/18.

Levitsky and Ziblatt, professors of comparative politics at Harvard, have spent nearly twenty years studying the breakdown of democracies. Focusing on Latin America and Europe, respectively, the two didn’t expect to address the issue for the United States, but that changed when Trump was elected. Building on their December 2016 New York Times op-ed which asked “Is Donald Trump a Threat to Democracy?” they emphatically answer “yes,” outline the specific risks he poses, and chart ways we can avert the threat of authoritarianism. Drawing on examples of troubled states from around the world since the 1930s, Levitsky and Ziblatt point out that warning signs of collapse include the weakening of institutions, such as the judiciary and the media, erosion of political norms, and the rise of incivility.

Produced by Tom Warren

[MarkGibsonrmarkgibson]

Congratulations on your important, well researched and timely book. This is a clarion warning call that our democracy is under severe threat ad may collapse. If you don't read the book, please watch this 1-hour video. Outstanding.

[KerrieRedgate]

These two guys have an important message. But just too awkward to listen to with Google’s new, loud “interruption marketing” techniques. Too many ads in mid-sentence. YouTube used to be a fabulous website before Google bought it in 2006. It was totally free and a much nicer community, overall. It’s just another noisy advertising platform now. Talk about loss of democracy.

[akumar]

Its great to see this country has great thinkers, well done gentleman.

[milesblue]

Northern and southern whites were able to reconcile their differences after the American civil war by turning their backs on racial equality. Thank you for making the point. This has been thoroughly documented and discussed in reference to the "Lost Cause" narrative America settled on after reconstruction. We are still living under that delusion today and it is very easy to draw a straight line from that to Trumpism.

[Miguel_El_Chileno]

Democracy was already severely weakend in the USA by the influence bought by the Super Rich Billionaires and the forced Neo-Liberal Economic Policies of the past 40 years, Government in the US only works for the Interests of the Super Rich and the College Educated Socially and Economically Liberal Upper Middle Class and you wonder why Democracy has lost legitimacy, you also live within your own Bubble, bring back the Economically Progressive New Deal Policies that were in place before 1980, recreate the large Middle Class and support for Popular Democracy.

[kirasbusiness]

I really loved this presentation! Look forward to reading and sharing your book. Thank you!

[ralpholynyk]

id like to explore the clash between identifying as a democratic nation, and the historical 'reality' of america as a evolving empire..wondering if the ideal of democracy is tainted by the concurrent demand and authorities of any empire...-indicated by much of Americans foreign policy and how citizens interact locally, such as making demands for more freedoms and equality... does the demands of empire (see British and other empires as examples) basically threaten actual full fledged democracy principles?

[Beretta]

Solid presentation for an excellent book. Particularly I give props for pointing out how hard it is to resist without losing forbearance. Frankly one of the most consistently enraging parts of an engaging book has been the emphasis on "soft guard rails, " that tradition and respect keep a democracy function.

And they do...right until the moment when one side decides they _don't_ and that is frustrating. A lot can be lost and when the cause is diagnosed as "we could have fixed it _but that would have been " I know I get angry. Issues that are often glossed over as "morally peripheral" can become literal life and death for them caught in the consequences.

These days when I think Centrist Democrats I don't think "Wheelers and New Dealers" I think "Mediocre players of a obviously flawed game who lack the spine to fix the rules" and until they can get past themselves they're not going to be reliable allies to anyone else.

[njarudd]

I started panicking at 18:30 when they start listing all the legal powers Trump has, but then remembered Trump only watches Fox & Friends so we are safe.

[passionatebraziliangirl.]

This debated ended with a very optimistic message. I think the outspoken students from the mass shooting in Florida on February 14 may become the new leadership Americans crave since the cheeseburger in chief is busy tweeting.

[Joelwbb]

Sadly, this does not sound like a sophisticated analysis of the very serious challenges we face. Maybe the book is more impressive than these two; it's hard to say, not having read it yet. The problem, as I see it at least, is that we have an elite that has lost the respect and confidence of the working class. After listening to these two Harvard professors, I'm more convinced than ever that the elite remain afflicted with a terminal case of tin ear.

[EdSuastegui]

Interesting how the second speaker exclusively lays the blame at the feet of one and only one party. Not exactly an integrated picture. (Hint: who "Borked" Bork? who "linched" Thomas? and who has overplayed identity politics in urban centers?)

[RyanJohnson]

The $ will be ready for the next realignment.

[BlazinBlades]

The system of government in the US is a Republic not really a true democracy per se.
Derived mostly from the Roman republic way of government with some ancient greek influence.
The Roman dictator appointed for 2 years out of the councils is the American president/commander in chief who may rule for 2 terms.
On top of that the system casts aside the most important democratic principle: the majority rules.
As long as the system allows for a minority (3 mill less votes for Trump than for Clinton) to highjack the presidency legally and a farm boy from Wyoming’s vote is worth 6 times the voting power a farm boy from California has, the system is bound for collapse at anytime.
I, by the way live in Israel now the only democracy in the middle east surviving for the last 71 years and dismissed as non existent by one of the writers...
Last but not least: i am a strong Trump supporter but always held very liberal/democratic views on many matters.
Thank you for raising all these fascinating issues.
IB

[Sunshine-uzcx]

I just love it.. country already in Perril but arrogant Americans on this meeting seems to have soooo much
Trump came TO STAY!!
Forever!
Still feel funny