Back to Blog

Tyranny of the Minority with Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

interviews Sep 08, 2023

 

American Democracy has faced some challenging times, living through a modern-day political crisis. Today, Sharon is joined by Harvard professors of government, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt to dig into all things Democracy. In their new book, Tyranny of the Minority, they explore how democracies break down throughout history and find the striking pattern that political minorities often govern over political majorities. Factor in the unsettling truth that the Constitution – even with its brilliance and reverence – has flaws, which limit the power of majorities, and we’re left wondering: Why have we stopped working to reform and improve the Constitution over the last half century? What are other Democracies doing to fight Authoritarianism? And what is a “Constitutional Republic” in relation to a Democracy? 

Special thanks to our guests, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, for joining us today. 

 

Links to Full Episode

 

About the Guest:

 Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are professors of government at Harvard University and the authors of the New York Times bestseller How Democracies Die, which won the Goldsmith Book Prize, was shortlisted for the Lionel Gelber Prize, and was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Time, and Foreign Affairs.

Related Links:

 

Episode Sponsor Codes:

Democracy Awakening with Heather Cox Richardson

Sep 25, 2023

Before the Movement with Dylan Penningroth

Sep 22, 2023

What an Owl Knows with Jennifer Ackerman

Sep 20, 2023