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188 Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt: How Democracies Die

Democratic erosion isn’t always caused by external forces, but can result from a slow, insidious weakening of democratic norms.

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt: How Democracies Die

Summary

In "How Democracies Die," political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt explore the factors that lead to democratic erosion and ultimately the death of democracies. Through case studies of past and present democracies, they argue that democratic backsliding is not necessarily caused by external forces, but can result from a slow, insidious weakening of democratic norms. The authors identify warning signs of democratic decline, such as the rejection of political opponents as enemies, the toleration of political violence, and the acceptance of political corruption. They urge citizens and political leaders alike to be vigilant in protecting democratic norms and institutions.

About

Title: How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future

Author: Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

Publishing year: 2018

Publisher: Crown

Length in hours: 8 hours and 24 minutes

5 main ideas

  1. Democratic norms and institutions are essential for the survival of democracies.
  2. Democratic erosion is not always caused by external forces, but can result from a gradual weakening of democratic norms and institutions.
  3. There are warning signs of democratic decline, including the rejection of political opponents as enemies, the toleration of political violence, and the acceptance of political corruption.
  4. Political leaders play a critical role in upholding democratic norms and institutions.
  5. Citizens also have a responsibility to protect democratic norms and institutions, including by holding their leaders accountable.
Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt: How Democracies Die

5 funny quotes

  1. "When it comes to detecting the warning signs of democratic breakdown, our pets may be better equipped than we are."
  2. "While it's true that democracies can die at the hands of men with guns, they often die with the support of men with briefcases."
  3. "Even Machiavelli thought that politics should be at least slightly more noble than the Mafia."
  4. "The problem with conspiracy theories is not that they are false, but that they are almost always absurd."
  5. "The most popular college course in America these days, judging by enrollment figures, is 'Intro to Microaggressions.'"

5 thought-provoking quotes​

  1. "The political institutions that we have built to protect our democracy are no longer enough."
  2. "We cannot become so fixated on partisan victory that we abandon our commitment to the values that sustain our system of government."
  3. "When democracies die, they typically do so not at the hands of generals but of elected leaders—presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power."
  4. "Authoritarians everywhere share a disdain for democratic norms, but they do not all share the same goals, tactics, or coalitions."
  5. "A well-functioning democracy depends on parties who compete hard but who also recognize that their rivals are legitimate, that their disagreements are not existential, and that the rules of the game are not infinitely malleable."

5 dilemmas

  1. How can democracies strike a balance between preserving the rule of law and protecting civil liberties in the face of threats from terrorism and other forms of extremism?
  2. How can democratic institutions be reformed and strengthened without unduly limiting the ability of elected officials to make necessary changes?
  3. How can we balance the need for accountability and transparency in government with the need to protect national security and confidential information?
  4. How can we prevent the rise of demagogues and authoritarian leaders while still respecting the democratic process and the will of the people?
  5. How can we reconcile the competing demands of diversity and unity in democratic societies, particularly in the face of rising populism and identity politics?

5 examples

  1. Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany in the 1930s, during which he subverted democratic institutions to establish a fascist regime.
  2. Recep Tayyip Erdogan's erosion of democracy in Turkey through the manipulation of media and the judicial system.
  3. Rodrigo Duterte's authoritarian rule in the Philippines, characterized by widespread human rights abuses and attacks on the free press.
  4. Hugo Chavez's populist and authoritarian regime in Venezuela, which ultimately led to economic collapse and political turmoil.
  5. The Tea Party movement in the United States, which saw the Republican Party move further to the right and embrace more extremist views.

Referenced books

Other books quoted or referenced in "How Democracies Die":

  1. "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William L. Shirer - Quoted or referenced to analyze the decline and collapse of democratic institutions in Nazi Germany.
  2. "The Anatomy of Fascism" by Robert O. Paxton - Quoted or referenced to explore the characteristics and rise of fascist movements and their impact on democracies.
  3. "Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War" by Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way - Referenced to discuss the concept of competitive authoritarianism and its threat to democratic systems.
  4. "The Origins of Totalitarianism" by Hannah Arendt - Quoted or referenced to examine the historical roots and mechanisms of totalitarian regimes.
  5. "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" by Timothy Snyder - Quoted or referenced to provide lessons and insights on how to safeguard democracy in the face of authoritarian threats.

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"Even Machiavelli thought that politics should be at least slightly more noble than the Mafia."

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt: How Democracies Die
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