Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

raccoon

(31,088 posts)
Fri Mar 26, 2021, 03:21 PM Mar 2021

"How Democracies Die" is a must read!

How Democracies Die is a 2018 book by Harvard University political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt about how elected leaders can gradually subvert the democratic process to increase their power.[1] In 2021, The Economist described the book as the "most important book of the Trump era."[2]


Synopsis

The book warns against the breakdown of "mutual toleration" and respect for the political legitimacy of the opposition. This tolerance involves accepting the results of a free and fair election where the opposition has won, in contrast with advocacy for overthrow or spurious complaints about the election mechanism. The authors also assert the importance of respecting the opinions of those who come to legitimately different political opinions, in contrast to attacking the patriotism of any who disagree, or warning that if they come to power they will destroy the country.

(Snip)

The authors dedicate many chapters to the study of the United States, President Donald Trump, and the 2016 presidential election, but also apply their theory to Latin America and European countries, especially Venezuela and Russia. According to them, the United States has, until 2016, resisted the attempts to undermine democracy thanks to two norms: mutual toleration and forbearance, the latter defined as the intentional restraint of one's power in order to respect the spirit of the law if not its letters. They finally predict three potential scenarios for the post-Trump United States.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Democracies_Die#Synopsis
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"How Democracies Die" is a must read! (Original Post) raccoon Mar 2021 OP
I read this shortly after it came out. wnylib Nov 2021 #1
I suggest "Twilight of Democracy" by Anne Applebaum AngryOldDem Dec 2021 #2

wnylib

(21,146 posts)
1. I read this shortly after it came out.
Wed Nov 10, 2021, 11:20 AM
Nov 2021

Also read Madeleine Albright's book, "Fascism: A Warning."

Looking back on both books now, in light of events in 2020 and on 1/6, both books were prophetic.

AngryOldDem

(14,061 posts)
2. I suggest "Twilight of Democracy" by Anne Applebaum
Sun Dec 26, 2021, 08:37 AM
Dec 2021

Shows how easily once-reasonable people can adopt an authoritarian mindset, which is another problem we’re now up against.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Non-Fiction»"How Democracies Die" is ...