213 episodes
Democracy Paradox Democracy Paradox
-
- Government
-
-
4.7 • 69 Ratings
-
Is it possible for a democracy to govern undemocratically? Can the people elect an undemocratic leader? Is it possible for democracy to bring about authoritarianism? And if so, what does this say about democracy? My name is Justin Kempf. Every week I talk to the brightest minds on subjects like international relations, political theory, and history to explore democracy from every conceivable angle. Topics like civil resistance, authoritarian successor parties, and the autocratic middle class challenge our ideas about democracy. Join me as we unravel new topics every week.
-
Does Democracy Die in Darkness? Katlyn Carter on Transparency and Secrecy in Early Representative Governments
If we're thinking about democracy as something broader that is producing equality, justice or these kind of things, often those policies that we might describe as democratic policies can emerge from processes that are undemocratic. I think that's uncomfortable for us to think about.
Katlyn Carter
Support the podcast on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Katlyn Carter is an assistant professor of history at Notre Dame University. She is the author of Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions.
Key Highlights
Introduction - 0:41The Birth of Republics - 3:10Publicity - 19:23Spectacle - 26:43Representation - 35:43Key Links
Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions by Katlyn Carter
Katlyn Carter on My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Learn more about Katlyn Carter
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Heather Cox Richardson on History, Conservatism, and the Awakening of American Democracy
Daniel Ziblatt on American Democracy, the Republican Party, and the Tyranny of the Minority
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy
Support the show -
How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent? Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism
I think populism is rather a specific form of discontent. Discontent is the umbrella term. It's this vague sense that the way things are being done is not working. That democracy is not effective. That it's not serving my interests.
Matthew Rhodes-Purdy
Support the podcast on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Rachel Navarre is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Master of Public Administration Program at Bridgewater State University. Matthew Rhodes-Purdy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. They are the coauthors (along with Stephen Utych) of The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremism, and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies.
Key Highlights
Introduction - 0:53What is Discontent - 3:21Crisis and Discontent - 13:34Rise of Populism - 25:13An End to Neoliberalism? - 39:20Key Links
The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremism, and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies by Matthew Rhodes-Purdy, Rachel Navarre, and Stephen Utych
Learn more about Rachel Navarre here.
Learn more about Matthew Rhodes-Purdy here.
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Daniel Ziblatt on American Democracy, the Republican Party, and the Tyranny of the Minority
Marc Plattner Has Quite a Bit to Say About Democracy
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy
Support the show -
Rachel Schwartz on How Guatemala Rose Up Against Democratic Backsliding
This was an election that was meant to cement authoritarian rule and it became a democratic breakthrough.
Rachel Schwartz
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Rachel Schwartz is an assistant professor of international and area studies at the University of Oklahoma. Recently, she cowrote an article with Anita Isaacs for the Journal of Democracy called, “How Guatemala Defied the Odds." She also authored a book earlier this year called Undermining the State from Within: The Institutional Legacies of Civil War in Central America.
Key Highlights
Introduction - 0:33The 2023 Election - 2:46A Weak State - 17:18Democratic Backsliding - 30:53Rejuvenating Democracy - 39:39Key Links
Undermining the State from Within: The Institutional Legacies of Civil War in Central America by Rachel Schwartz
"How Guatemala Defied the Odds" in Journal of Democracy by Rachel Schwartz
"Guatemala: Resisting Democratic Backsliding in the Least Likely of Places?" by Rachel Schwartz
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Wendy Hunter on Lula, Bolsonaro, January 8th and Democracy in Brazil
Jennifer Piscopo on the Constitutional Chaos in Chile
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy
Support the show -
Who is Alexey Navalny? David Herszenhorn Paints a Picture
It's impossible not to admire somebody who is willing to stand up for their country, for freedom and democracy, for the idea that Russians should be able to chart their own future and have a say in what their government looks like.
David Herszenhorn
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
David Herszenhorn is the Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe editor at The Washington Post and was a correspondent for Politico Europe and The New York Times. He is the author The Dissident: Alexey Navalny: Profile of a Political Prisoner.
Key Highlights
Introduction - 0:44Navalny as a Political Figure - 3:13Navalny and the State - 21:26Navalny and Russian Repression - 34:41Politician or Dissident? 42:45Key Links
The Dissident: Alexey Navalny: Profile of a Political Prisoner by David Herszenhorn
"Alexey Navalny Never Wanted to Be a Dissident" in Politico by David Herszenhorn
"For Putin foe Alexey Navalny, Ukraine has long been a volatile issue" in The Washington Post by David Herszenhorn
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Olga Onuch and Henry Hale Describe the Zelensky Effect
Michael McFaul and Robert Person on Putin, Russia, and the War in Ukraine
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy
Support the show -
Leadership is Not a Formula Says Moshik Temkin
Leadership is not a formula. It's not something that happens in a vacuum. It's not just something that you can declare about yourself.
Moshik Temkin
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Moshik Temkin is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership and History at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, and a fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. His most recent book is Warriors, Rebels, and Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiavelli to Malcolm X.
Key Highlights
Introduction - 0:45What is Leadership? 3:12Powerless Leadership - 11:58Ethics of Leadership - 24:10Ordinary Leadership - 40:16Key Links
Warriors, Rebels, and Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiavelli to Malcolm X by Moshik Temkin
Learn more about Moshik Temkin
Follow Moshik Temkin on X at @moshik_temkin
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Larry Bartels Says Democracy Erodes from the Top
Moisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political Power
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy
Support the show -
Patricia Evangelista Says The Philippines is an Example of What Happens When Autocrats and Dictators Rise and We Let Them
For people like me or just your ordinary Joes who speak of democracy, I thought it meant freedom. I thought it meant a free press. I thought it meant that people would not die on the streets.
Patricia Evangelista
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Patricia Evangelista is a trauma journalist and former investigative reporter for the Philippine news company Rappler. She has received the Kate Webb Prize for exceptional journalism in dangerous conditions. Recently, she authored the book Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country.
Key Highlights
Introduction - 0:46The Philippines and Duterte - 2:37The Drug War - 11:04Vigilantes and Police - 25:26Democracy in the Philippines - 34:11Key Links
Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country by Patricia Evangelista
Read the original "Some People Need Killing" published in Rappler.com
Follow Patricia Evangelista on X at @patevangelista
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Moisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political Power
Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley on the Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy
Support the show
Customer Reviews
Insightful every time
Insightful conversations every week. A great resource for political scientists.
Mixed at best
I find these podcasts to be perpetually confusing. Of the three I’ve listened to, I abandoned 2 in disgust and held one to the end.
I think my issue is that the host has a perspective on some key words or ideas that are far afield of how Americans like me take them.
A big one is in how he and some of his guests use the words liberal, liberty and conservative. To him, the root meaning is all about 18th century philosophy (which is how the British use it) while to me it’s about 21st century life. One is all about blind rationalism (without humanity). The other is about humanism, society and our better nature.
Our American term Bleeding Heart Liberal, which refers to Jesus’ heart impassioned with love for humanity (i.e., the Sacred heart of Jesus).
It is that love for humanity that is largely absent here leaving many of the conversations sounding more like drunk libertarian screeds than anything esle.
Brilliant!
This is the perfect choice for anyone interested in learning more about the opportunities and challenges associated with democracy! Each episode is both informative and enjoyable.