Democracy Paradox

News & Politics Podcasts

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...

Episodes

Kenneth Roberts Says the Left Pays a Steep Price for Breaking with Democracy

5/13/2026

Sheri Berman Says the Democratic Recession Was Not a Surprise

4/29/2026

Christopher Walker Revisits Sharp Power

4/15/2026

Hugo Drochon Says Elites Are Inevitable

4/1/2026

Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?

3/18/2026

Minxin Pei Warns China Has Descended into Totalitarianism

3/4/2026

Erica Frantz says Personalist Parties are Democracy's Latest Threat

2/18/2026

Javier Pérez Sandoval Reveals Democracy’s Hidden Vulnerability: The Hollowing of the State

2/4/2026

Kate Baldwin Explains Why Christianity Fights for Democracy in Africa

1/21/2026

Natalie Wenzell Letsa Describes the Autocratic Voter

1/7/2026

Russell Muirhead Warns Ungoverning Threatens Democracy

12/24/2025

Luis Schiumerini on Incumbency Bias

12/10/2025

Adam Przeworski Asks Who Decides What is Democratic

11/26/2025

Killian Clarke Warns Counterrevolution is a Threat to Nascent Democracies

11/12/2025

Amel Ahmed Says the Regime Question Has Returned

10/29/2025

Tom Carothers Says We Misunderstand Democratic Backsliding

10/15/2025

Javier Corrales on Intentional Polarization

10/1/2025

Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders

9/17/2025

The Last Episode. Elizabeth Saunders on How Democracies Wage War and Make Peace

6/11/2024

When Democracy Breaks: Final Thoughts with Archon Fung, David Moss and Arne Westad

6/4/2024

Democracy Paradox

News & Politics Podcasts

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...

Kenneth Roberts Says the Left Pays a Steep Price for Breaking with Democracy

Sheri Berman Says the Democratic Recession Was Not a Surprise

Christopher Walker Revisits Sharp Power

Hugo Drochon Says Elites Are Inevitable

Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?

Minxin Pei Warns China Has Descended into Totalitarianism

Erica Frantz says Personalist Parties are Democracy's Latest Threat

Javier Pérez Sandoval Reveals Democracy’s Hidden Vulnerability: The Hollowing of the State

Kate Baldwin Explains Why Christianity Fights for Democracy in Africa

Natalie Wenzell Letsa Describes the Autocratic Voter

Russell Muirhead Warns Ungoverning Threatens Democracy

Luis Schiumerini on Incumbency Bias

Adam Przeworski Asks Who Decides What is Democratic

Killian Clarke Warns Counterrevolution is a Threat to Nascent Democracies

Amel Ahmed Says the Regime Question Has Returned

Tom Carothers Says We Misunderstand Democratic Backsliding

Javier Corrales on Intentional Polarization

Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders

The Last Episode. Elizabeth Saunders on How Democracies Wage War and Make Peace

When Democracy Breaks: Final Thoughts with Archon Fung, David Moss and Arne Westad

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...