First published 2023
America attempts something few societies have tried: building a multiracial democracy. This transformation triggers an authoritarian response that targets democratic institutions from within. Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt examine why political parties abandon democratic norms when they realize they cannot win elections fairly. They analyze examples from 1930s France to contemporary Thailand to show how leaders attack systems from inside, embracing violent extremists and weaponizing laws. The authors argue America's Constitution uniquely enables minority rule, allowing small groups to overpower majorities through outdated mechanisms. They compare the United States unfavorably to modern democracies like Germany, Sweden, Argentina, and New Zealand, which have reformed antiquated institutions including elite upper chambers, indirect elections, and lifetime judicial appointments. Levitsky and Ziblatt call for constitutional reform, noting America has reinvented itself before during Reconstruction and the Progressive Era. They present a stark choice: America will either complete its transition to multiracial democracy or abandon democracy entirely.
Genres: american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-change
Setting: Argentina, France, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand, United States
Period: 1930s, Progressive Era, Reconstruction
368 pages · Hardcover · Crown