Democracy Paradox

Justin Kempf

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.

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Jun 22, 2021 · 43 min
Freedom House: Sarah Repucci Assesses Freedom in the World
Democracy is about more than elections. Election day is very important, but what is happening in the country every other day is an integral part to what a democracy is and if you think about the fundamental freedoms that we think of in our own democracy: free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association and assembly, also things like the independence of the judiciary, these are all things that are on the civil liberties side. Sarah Repucci A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Sarah Repucci is the Vice President of Research and Analysis at Freedom House and coauthor (alongside Amy Slipowitz) of the executive summary of the report Freedom in the World 2021: Democracy Under Siege. * Note * Sarah's mic died early in the interview. The audio quality is not bad, but will sound different. Hopefully it does not take away from the quality of the interview. Key Highlights Include Why democracy continues its steady decline The influence of China and the U.S. on global democracy The role of civil liberties in democracy Impact of the pandemic on democracy Discussion of democracy in India, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, and the United States Key Links Read the landmark report from Freedom House Freedom in the World 2021: Democracy Under Siege Visit Freedom House online at www.freedomhouse.org Follow Freedom House on Twitter @freedomhouse Related Content Michael Miller on the Unexpected Paths to Democratization Thomas Carothers and Andrew O'Donohue are Worried About Severe Polarization More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Jun 15, 2021 · 45 min
Michael Miller on the Unexpected Paths to Democratization
So many cases of democratization start with these episodes and this period of elite political violence where the initial stages of it have nothing to do with democratization. People are not aiming for that. People are barely even thinking about it. It's all about this elite political struggle and out of that chaos a bit later you get democracy. Michael Miller A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Michael Miller is a professor of political science and international relations at George Washington University and the author of the forthcoming book Shock to the System: Coups, Elections, and War on the Road to Democratization. Key Highlights Include How violent shocks like coups and civil wars create openings for democratization Why autocratic ruling parties continue to win elections in democracies The role for democratic activists in the democratization process Discussions on possibilities for democracy in China, Belarus, and Myanmar. Mike offers a blueprint for an unconventional approach for democracy promotion Key Links Shock to the System: Coups, Elections, and War on the Road to Democratization by Michael K. Miller Follow Michael on Twitter @mkmdem Learn more about Michael's work Related Content James Loxton Explains Why Authoritarian Successor Parties Succeed in Democracies Elizabeth Nugent on Polarization, Democratization and the Arab Spring More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Jun 8, 2021 · 46 min
Daniel Carpenter Revisits the Petition in 19th Century America
The idea of a political system is not simply to be efficient. It's to have justice. It's to have the idea that anybody can come to the seat of power and say, 'Here are my grievances,' and that doesn't mean that by making that claim, they will get exactly what they want. But it does mean that they will get a hearing and in that notion, I think, lies again, a certain part of democracy that is not reduceable just to elections. Daniel Carpenter A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Dan Carpenter is the Allie S. Freed professor of Government at Harvard University and the author of Democracy by Petition: Popular Politics in Transformation, 1790-1870. Key Highlights Include A history of petitions in the 19th century including an account of the gag rule. The role of petitions in the mobilization of women, Native Americans, the Whig Party, and the antislavery movement How did petitions contribute to democratization of America in the 19th century What would Congress look like if we still had 'petition days' What can we learn from the era of petition politics Key Links Democracy by Petition: Popular Politics in Transformation, 1790-1870 by Daniel Carpenter "The Menthol Cigarette Ban Shows There Is No Democracy Without Petitions," by Daniel Carpenter, Boston Review "Robust Claims of Vast Lawlessness" from Lapham's Quarterly by Daniel Carpenter Related Content Can America Preserve Democracy without Retreating from it? Robert C. Lieberman on the Four Threats Derek W. Black Says Public Education Represents the Idea of America... Not its Reality More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Out of Order from the German Marshall Fund Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Jun 1, 2021 · 45 min
Sebastian Strangio Explains the Relationship Between China and Southeast Asia
The experience of Western colonization has imprinted all of these nations in profound ways and it's tended to inculcate a sort of skepticism about Western invocations of democracy and the rule of law. China, of course, shares a similar skepticism. China was also not formerly colonized, or not fully colonized by Western powers, but it experienced what the Chinese communist party likes to term a century of humiliation. And so, both regions share an abiding ambivalence about the current international order. Sebastian Strangio A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Sebastian Strangio is the Southeast Asia Editor at The Diplomat and the author of In the Dragon's Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century. Key Highlights Include Sebastian explains the economic, political, and cultural ties between China and Southeast Asia An overview of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) An explanation of the South China Sea dispute Distinguishes between maritime and mainland nations in Southeast Asia China's approach to Southeast Asia under Xi Jinping Key Links In the Dragon's Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century by Sebastian Strangio www.thediplomat.com www.sebastianstrangio.com Related Content Mareike Ohlberg on the Global Influence of the Chinese Communist Party Xiaoyu Pu on China's Global Identities More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music On Opinion: The Parlia Podcast Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
May 25, 2021 · 48 min
Can America Preserve Democracy without Retreating from it? Robert C. Lieberman on the Four Threats
Racism and racial conflict are always there, always a powerful and important part of American politics. But when they combine with polarization, with this kind of partisan antagonism, and when that becomes the dividing line between the parties, that's really dangerous. That's what happened in the 1850s. It led to civil war. That's what happened in the 1890s. It led to violent conflict and mass disenfranchisement. And it's happening again today. Robert C. Lieberman A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include An account of the 1898 insurrection in Wilmington, North Carolina. Is polarization the fault of both sides or is one party responsible? How the election of 1896 affected American democracy. How polarization, conflicts over who belongs, rising economic inequality, and executive aggrandizement interact to threaten democracy in the United States. Does the preservation of democracy really require democratic backsliding? Robert Lieberman is a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University and coauthored Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy with Suzanne Mettler. Key Links Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy by Robert C. Lieberman and Suzanne Mettler "Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation" by John Lewis in The New York Times Follow Rob Lieberman on Twitter @r_lieberman Related Content Derek W. Black Says Public Education Represents the Idea of America... Not its Reality Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican Party More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music The Science of Politics Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
May 18, 2021 · 53 min
Kurt Weyland Distinguishes Between Fascism and Authoritarianism
In the 19th century Europe had thought that they had moved towards liberalism, enlightenment, rationality, progress, that stuff like mass warfare was over and it wouldn't come back. And then you have four years of senseless, mass slaughter, they just totally destroyed or challenged those ideas of humankind getting better off, progress of humankind getting more civilized. In retrospect, it's hard to imagine the coincidence of deep challenges and crises that wrecked the interwar years. Kurt Weyland A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include Kurt clarifies the concept of totalitarian fascism from conservative authoritarianism A description of the political environment of the interwar period Why did authoritarians disliked communism and fascism? Why did fascism emerge during this period? Is there a parallel between the interwar period to today? Kurt Weyland is a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of the new book Assault on Democracy: Communism, Fascism, and Authoritarianism During the Interwar Years. Key Links Assault on Democracy: Communism, Fascism, and Authoritarianism During the Interwar Years by Kurt Weyland "The Real Lessons of the Interwar Years" by Agnes Cornell, Jørgen Møller, Svend-Erik Skaaning in Journal of Democracy, July 2017 Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation by Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan Related Content Agnes Cornell and Svend-Erik Skaaning on the Interwar Period Paul Robinson on Russian Conservatism More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Another Way Podcast Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
May 11, 2021 · 54 min
James Loxton Explains Why Authoritarian Successor Parties Succeed in Democracies
They really view their history as one of victimization, one of struggle and even martyrdom. ARENA had multiple leaders assassinated. Again, that version of history that I just told you, that's not necessarily my view. But I do actually believe that that is their sincere belief and it makes for a really compelling founding myth if you will. And I think that founding myth has helped to hold both parties together right up until the present day. James Loxton A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include Why do voters elect leaders with ties to former dictators? Description of authoritarian successor parties Challenges for conservative party formation A brief history of the UDI in Chile and ARENA in El Salvador The role of counterrevolutionary struggle Key Links Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle by James Loxton "Authoritarian Successor Parties" by James Loxton in Journal of Democracy, July 2015 Visit James at www.jamesloxton.net Related Content Bryn Rosenfeld on Middle Class Support for Dictators in Autocratic Regimes Amy Erica Smith on Politics and Religion in Brazil More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Democracy Matters Podcast Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
May 4, 2021 · 51 min
Derek W. Black Says Public Education Represents the Idea of America... Not its Reality
I find it hard to believe, without a lot more justification than they're offering that somehow that there's this new secret sauce to opportunity and equality and democracy that does not involve public education as the fundamental pillar. So you have people arguing that it's not. They're not saying we want to destroy democracy, but I'm saying, you as reader, you as listeners, need to think about the long-term consequences of shrinking the public education footprint and moving back into a siloed or a fiefdom or a private system that resembles our darkest days. Derek W. Black A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include Derek explains the case for a right to education. A brief history of public education in the United States How the NAACP used the language of democracy in their litigation for school desegregation Why vouchers and charter schools threaten public education Finally, the intersection of public education and democracy runs throughout the conversation Key Links Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy by Derek W. Black San Antonio Independent School District et. al. v. Rodriguez Follow Derek W. Black @DerekWBlack Related Content Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican Party Carolyn Hendriks, Selen Ercan and John Boswell on Mending Democracy More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Swamp Stories Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Apr 27, 2021 · 47 min
Sheryl WuDunn Paints a Picture of Poverty in America and Offers Hope for Solutions
That's why all Americans should care. Because the cost of poverty is not just the cost to that person who is in poverty. It's a cost to all of society. We're all paying for people being jailed. We're all paying for extra costs in the legal system, in the police force, in the healthcare system. Sheryl WuDunn A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include Stories of Poverty and Inequality in America Challenges in America in Education, Health, and Well-Being Impact of Poverty on Children with an Explanation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Collective Responsibility to Solve Social Problems Rethinking of Social Programs as Investments Rather than Outlays Sheryl WuDunn is a pulitzer prize winning reporter, business executive, and the author of Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope (along with her husband Nicholas Kristof). Key Links Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope by Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope - PBS Documentary Presented by Show of Force Follow Sheryl on Twitter @WuDunn Related Content Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican Party Zizi Papacharissi Dreams of What Comes After Democracy More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Apr 20, 2021 · 54 min
Mike Hoffman on How Religious Identities Influence Support for or Opposition to Democracy
Doctrine is actually often a lot looser and more subject to interpretation than we tend to assume and the way that the doctrine gets interpreted is often partially a function of group interests themselves. If you have a religious group in a given country that believes it would benefit from democracy, it's pretty likely that that group will find a way to interpret and frame its doctrine in a way that supports democracy. - Mike Hoffman A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include Role of Religion in Identity Formation How Communal Prayer Shapes Religious Identity Ways Group Interests Shape Perspectives on Democracy Description of Lebanon's Political System Why Some Groups Oppose Democracy Mike Hoffman is a professor of political science at Notre Dame and the author of Faith in Numbers: Religion, Sectarianism, and Democracy. Key Links Faith in Numbers: Religion, Sectarianism, and Democracy by Michael Hoffman Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson Patterns of Democracy by Arend Lijphart Related Content Elizabeth Nugent on Polarization, Democratization and the Arab Spring Bryn Rosenfeld on Middle Class Support for Dictators in Autocratic Regimes More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Democracy Works Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Apr 13, 2021 · 52 min
Shari Davis Elevates Participatory Budgeting
Participatory budgeting is actually about connecting folks with the skills and resources to navigate and shape government. And so, for me, that is the most optimistic and the most important outcome of any participatory budgeting process. Shari Davis A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include A walk through the process of participatory budgeting with an example The history of participatory budgeting around the world An example of participatory budgeting in China The Role of Art in Democracy Next steps for Participatory Budgeting Shari Davis leads the Participatory Budget Project as its Executive Director. They have over 15 years working in local government beginning in high school. And not long ago they were honored as an Obama Fellow. Key Links Participatory Budgeting Project Democracy Beyond Elections "Why is Democracy Performing so Poorly" by Francis Fukuyama Related Content Hélène Landemore on Democracy without Elections Carolyn Hendriks, Selen Ercan and John Boswell on Mending Democracy More from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music How Do We Fix It? Email the show at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show
Apr 6, 2021 · 43 min
Chris Bickerton Defines Technopopulism
That tension between the politics of the whole and the politics of the part, that tension between the politics of generality and the politics of particularity, is really at the heart of party democracy. What we are sort of trying to capture, I suppose, with technopopulism is to think of a form of politics where that tension has simply gone. Chris Bickerton A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Key Highlights Include - Chris describes Technopopulism through an explanation of the Five Star Movement in Italy - We discuss how populists and technologists consider expertise - How technopopulism is different from classic interest-based politics - We discuss ANO and the Pirate Party in the Czech Republic - Barak Obama is analyzed in the lens of technopopulism - Chris explains how he thinks we can move beyond technopopulism Chris Bickerton is a reader of of Modern European Politics at the University of Cambridge. Alongside Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, he is the coauthor of Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics. He is also a frequent panelist on Talking Politics. More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Let's Find Common Ground Key Links Technopopulism: The New Logic of Democratic Politics by Christopher Bickerton and Carlo Invernizzi Accetti "Understanding the Illiberal Turn: Democratic Backsliding in the Czech Republic" by Seán Hanley and Milada Anna Vachudova Five Star Movement at Wikipedia Related Content Chad Alan Goldberg on the Wisconsin Idea and the Role of the Public University in a Democracy Thomas Carothers and Andrew O'Donohue are Worried About Severe Polarization More from the Podcast Support the show
Mar 30, 2021 · 45 min
Ross Benes on Nebraska and Rural Conservatism
The legislature is one of several examples of our history of being independent which is why I think it was such an important story to tell of Nebraska becoming like baptized into Republican orthodoxy. Because seeing that shift. That it wasn't always that way. We founded Arbor day in this state, we settle a lot of refugees per capita, we increased minimum wage, and Medicaid through ballot measures recently. We do stuff like that. - Ross Benes A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Red states and blue states. Republicans and Democrats. Rural and urban. Polarization. It is a term often heard about American politics. Most states find their politics lean heavily toward one party or the other. And Nebraska is no different. It is a very conservative state so it makes sense for it to elect Republicans. But not too long ago Democrats competed for state offices. In fact, Nebraska had at least one Democratic Senator from 1977 until 2012. It’s really only been the last ten years where Democrats could not compete in the state. Of course, the Democrats it elected were about as conservative as many Republicans. But Nebraska also has a history of progressive reforms. In fact, it was often rural America who championed many of the progressive ideas in the early twentieth century. This realization has caused me to go through a variety of different counterfactuals. Like why are rural Americans conservative and urban Americans liberal? Is there a scenario where this is reversed? I’m not looking to rewrite history. I just want to understand how politics change over time. And maybe where it is going next. Because history shows some of the things we take for granted have not always been that way. My guest Ross Benes grew up in Nebraska before moving to New York City. He has the kind of expat perspective that has given so many writers both clarity and insight. His recent book is Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold. Ross and I, we discuss why Democrats no longer compete in Nebraska. But I don’t want anyone to think Nebraska has to elect Democrats to prove their commitment to democracy. That’s not the point. Nebraska is one of many states with very little genuine competition between parties for statewide office. My concern is effective governance needs a range of perspectives to succeed. And this problem is not unique to Nebraska nor are many liberal states immune. More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Our Body Politic Key Links Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold by Ross Benes Fighting Liberal by George Norris The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker by Katherine Cramer Related Content Chad Alan Goldberg on the Wisconsin Idea and the Role of the Public University in a Democracy Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican Party Rural Consciousness as Political Identity Support the show
Mar 23, 2021 · 53 min
Chad Alan Goldberg on the Wisconsin Idea and the Role of the Public University in a Democracy
They had an obligation to take the knowledge that they were developing, to take their expertise and put it in the service of the community as a whole and the service of its elected leaders. Chad Alan Goldberg A Fulll Transcript is Available at www.democracyparadox.com. At the turn of the twentieth century, Wisconsin was at the forefront of the Progressive Movement. Wisconsin adopted the first modern state income tax. It initiated the first workers’ compensation plan. It enacted the first unemployment insurance program. Wisconsin even spearheaded important constitutional reforms like the direct election of Senators. UW Madison Professor Patrick Brenzel explains, “To say that Wisconsin was known nationally for transparent and egalitarian government is an understatement.” These reforms were the product of a relationship between the public university, legislators, and other stakeholders. It is known as the Wisconsin Idea. The Wisconsin Idea is a belief the public university has a role to contribute its research to the service of the state. A common motto is “The boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state.” The Wisconsin Idea remains central to the mission of the University of Wisconsin system to this day, but has become the subject of attacks from conservatives in recent years. Among the many efforts by Scott Walker to dismantle the administrative state included an attempt to remove the Wisconsin Idea from the university charter. It failed, but it highlights how there is a genuine debate about the role of public universities. Chad Alan Goldberg has been at the forefront of the effort to defend the Wisconsin Idea in recent years. He is a professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin Madison and the editor of the volume Education for Democracy: Renewing the Wisconsin Idea. This book features chapters from many leading scholars in a variety of disciplines including Kathy Cramer. Our conversation discusses some of the history behind the Wisconsin Idea. But it is really about the role of the public university. How is a public university different from a private university? Why does the public support universities? And how does a public university help to shape democracy? These are important questions I never thought to ask, but will mean a lot as we work to renew democracy. More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Politics in Question Key Links Education for Democracy: Renewing the Wisconsin Idea The Wisconsin Idea by Charles McCarthy The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker by Katherine Cramer Related Content Ryan Salzman is an Evangelist for Placemaking Zizi Papacharissi Dreams of What Comes After Democracy Thoughts on John Dewey's Democracy and Education Support the show
Mar 16, 2021 · 51 min
Elizabeth Nugent on Polarization, Democratization and the Arab Spring
The focus on the individual people involved in this moment and their preexisting relationships for me is a new way of thinking about democratic transitions. Because I think we see how much these personal relationships and personal histories matter for whether or not they can make these really big, important decisions at a moment of very high stress, very little information. Elizabeth Nugent A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Elizabeth Nugent believes political polarization derailed Egyptian democratization, while the lack of severe polarization has allowed Tunisian democracy to survive. But what makes her work remarkable is she argues Egyptian polarization was the outcome of targeted repression under authoritarian rule. At the same time, Tunisia avoided polarization because repression was more widespread. Stop and think about this for a moment. Tunisian democracy succeeds today because of a legacy of widespread, indiscriminate repression. It affected everyone so opposition groups learned to work together and even sympathized with one another. This is a truly counterintuitive insight. But it makes so much sense at the same time. Liz Nugent’s new book is After Repression: How Polarization Derails Democratic Transition. She is an assistant professor at Yale University with a focus on Middle Eastern politics. Her book uses the cases of Egypt and Tunisia to explain her ideas, but her thoughts on polarization will make waves as they are used in other contexts. Our conversation discusses Tunisia and Egypt. We also talk about how polarization affects democratization. But I find it most interesting how Liz emphasizes the political process requires real relationships with real people. She reminds us a very human element is necessary for democracy and democratization. More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Democracy in Danger Key Links Elizabeth Nugent's Home Page After Repression: How Polarization Derails Democratic Transition Yale MacMillan Center Council on Middle East Studies Related Content Thomas Carothers and Andrew O'Donohue are Worried About Severe Polarization Jonathan Pinckney on Civil Resistance Transitions Thoughts on Samuel Huntington's The Third Wave Support the show
Mar 9, 2021 · 51 min
Ryan Salzman is an Evangelist for Placemaking
Like so many things we're coming to grips with now in the 21st century, we're realizing that the 20th century was the anomaly. We feel like what was happening in the first 20 years of the 21st century that that was the anomaly. But it's not. The 20th century was the anomaly. And there's a temptation among policymakers to say, ‘But this is how it's always been.’ No. Wrong. Ryan Salzman A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. I live in Carmel, Indiana and in May The Farmers’ Market opens. It’s in a small public space between a concert hall called The Palladium and the Booth Tarkington Theatre. The Monon Bike Trail runs alongside it and there is bike parking sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Council. Live bands play in the center of the market. In the winter, the same space is used for an n outdoor ice skating rink surrounded by a German Christkindlmarkt. This is what Ryan Salzman describes as placemaking. Placemaking does not just transform public spaces. It expands them. Placemaking changes how we experience our community and establishes new landmarks. And whether we want to admit it or not, this is political. Placemaking involves the creation and distribution of public goods. Local governments make decisions over whether to embrace or prevent placemaking. For example, teenagers can paint a beautiful mural on a public building. Elected officials will decide whether to send a thank you or a citation. Ryan Salzman has studied the phenomenon of placemaking in his home of Bellevue, Kentucky and in other communities across the United States. He is a professor of political science at Northern Kentucky University and the author of Pop-Up Civics in 21st Century America: Understanding the Political Potential of Placemaking. He has experienced placemaking as an academic, an elected city councilman, and an active participant. Ryan’s work caught my attention because it examines local engagement through a novel lens. It considers political behavior that the participants probably don’t realize is political. It moves beyond theories of deliberative and direct democracy to consider ways everyday citizens produce meaningful action. Ryan and I have a light hearted conversation. But I don’t want to overlook the significant implications of placemaking for political science and political theory. I am excited for Ryan to share his stories and ideas. So it’s about time I introduce you to Ryan Salzman… Key Links Pop-Up Civics in 21st Century America: Understanding the Political Potential of Placemaking Black Lives Matter Mural in Cincinnati, Ohio ArtPlace America Related Content Zizi Papacharissi Dreams of What Comes After Democracy Carolyn Hendriks, Selen Ercan and John Boswell on Mending Democracy Thoughts on Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Support the show
Mar 2, 2021 · 57 min
Kajri Jain Believes Democracy Unfolds through the Aesthetic
"We don’t pay enough attention to the sensory aspects of what it means to be equal. That’s what it fundamentally is. That’s the presupposition of democracy. Not the goal. The presupposition is that we are equal, but does our comportment reinforce that or does it re-institute hierarchies." Kajri Jain A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. This week’s guest is Kajri Jain. She is an art historian from the University of Toronto and the author of Gods in the Time of Democracy. Her work is well known among scholars of contemporary Indian art. But I doubt many political scientists have come across her work. Our conversation explores politics in India through the construction of massive statues that are sometimes the size of the Statue of Liberty or taller. It’s a completely novel way to examine Hindu Nationalism, Dalit identity, and religion in India. But the conversation also explores the ways we communicate political ideas and create an inclusive democracy. Art is ultimately a form of communication, but it is largely neglected by scholars of democracy. We might discuss what people say about art, but rarely how the art interacts with us. This is a conversation I could only have with an art historian. But not just any art historian, but one who is also a philosopher and a religious scholar. An art historian who examines people affected by art more than the art itself. This is my conversation with Kajri Jain… Key Links Gods in the Time of Democracy Statue of Unity Kajri Jain at University of Toronto Key Content Thomas Carothers and Andrew O'Donohue are Worried About Severe Polarization Yael Tamir on Nationalism Thoughts on Jürgen Habermas' The Inclusion of the Other More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Support the show
Feb 23, 2021 · 45 min
Nic Cheeseman and Gabrielle Lynch on the Moral Economy of Elections in Africa
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. It’s common for Westerners to lecture Africans about democracy. Most Africans will admit their different political systems have many problems. Money is exchanged for votes, elections are rigged, and sometimes violence even breaks out. But the challenges African countries face in the process of democratization are not absent in the rest of the world. The 2020 American Presidential Election exposed many problems in the United States. The storming of the American capital proved that even violence is possible in the world’s oldest democracy. My point here is not to disparage American democracy, but to recognize every nation has a lot to learn. Nic Cheeseman and Gabrielle Lynch along with Justin Willis offer us an opportunity to consider democracy in an unfamiliar context. Their examination of Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda allow us to identity universal aspirations and ideals citizens hold in very different settings. But it’s not the differences which I believe are important. It’s their similarities. Nic, Gabrielle, and Justin are the authors of the book The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa: Democracy, Voting, and Virtue. Nic is the kind of political science rock star who gets quoted in The Economist. He is among the foremost experts on democracy in Africa, a professor of political science and democracy at the University of Birmingham in the UK, and the co-editor of the website Democracy in Africa. Gabrielle Lynch is a professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick. I invited Nic and Gabrielle to discuss their new book, because their research is always informative, not just because it exposes us to another part of the world, but because they are able to draw connections to larger ideas from their experiences. This is a conversation about Africa. This is a conversation about democracy. This is my conversation with Nic Cheeseman and Gabrielle Lynch… Music from Apes of the State. Key Content www.democracyinafrica.org Ghana: The Ebbing Power of Incumbency The Moral Economy of Elections in Africa Related Content Winston Mano on Social Media and Politics in Africa... And what America can Learn from Africa about Democracy Thomas Carothers and Andrew O'Donohue are Worried About Severe Polarization Thoughts on Brian Klaas and Nic Cheeseman's How to Rig an Election Support the show
Feb 16, 2021 · 54 min
Thomas Carothers and Andrew O'Donohue are Worried About Severe Polarization
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. My thoughts on polarization have changed over the past few years. On the one hand, polarization can be a danger to democracy. Milan Svolik among others have shown how strong ideological positions lead some voters to support leaders they know are undemocratic. Moreover, democracy depends on the willingness of both parties to make compromises to govern effectively. But on the other hand, there are issues where compromise itself is undemocratic. How do you compromise on the right to vote? Is it polarizing to refuse to waiver on issues of human rights? What about the rule of law? Sometimes compromise does not protect democracy, but endangers it. A lot of intelligent people have strong opinions about polarization. But few of them have thought deeply about the subject or read much of the literature. It’s a complicated subject. Last year Ezra Klein published a surprising book called Why We’re Polarized. It’s actually an impressive work of scholarship from someone who does not consider himself a scholar. But when he says “we’re polarized” he refers to an American experience. He largely ignores the polarization around the world in places like Venezuela, Poland, and India. So I reached out to Thomas Carothers and Andrew O’Donohue because I wanted to better understand polarization not just in the United States but as a wider global phenomenon. Tom and Andrew are the editors of s remarkable volume called Democracies Divided from 2019. Last year they published a supplement called Political Polarization in South and Southeast Asia: Old Divisions, New Dangers. Tom is the Senior Vice President for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He is a legendary scholar in the field of democracy promotion. Andrew is a nonresident assistant at Carnegie as well. He is also in the PhD program in Harvard’s Department of Government. Together they offer reflections on polarization in different contexts. They help explain how each is different and where they commonalities. Most of all this broader examination helps us think about polarization in very different ways. Email me at democracyparadoxblog@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox Key Links Democracies Divided: The Global Challenge of Political Polarization Political Polarization in South and Southeast Asia: Old Divisions, New Dangers Rejuvenating Democracy Promotion Related Content Can Democracy Survive the Internet? Nate Persily and Josh Tucker on Social Media and Democracy Lee Drutman Makes the Case for Multiparty Democracy in America Thoughts on Chantal Mouffe's On the Political Support the show
Feb 9, 2021 · 47 min
Can Democracy Survive the Internet? Nate Persily and Josh Tucker on Social Media and Democracy
A complete transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Over the past ten years social media has reshaped politics. Fake news and political disinformation have become a part of the political discourse. But social media has also brought about meaningful change through the #metoo and #blacklivesmatter movements. Social media has allowed dissident voices to express themselves in authoritarian regimes, but it has also given a platform to anti-democratic views in Western Nations. It has reawakened our sense of fairness, while it has brought to light some of our darkest demons. In the final analysis, social media is both a problem and an opportunity. And your outlook probably depends on the last headline you saw on Twitter or Facebook. Nate Persily and Josh Tucker are at the forefront of conversations on the role of social media in politics and its influence on democracy. Nate is a professor of law at Stanford, but also has a PhD in political science. He has long been an expert in election law, but has also become among the foremost scholars on the politics of social media and the internet. Among his many roles, he is the co-director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center. Josh is a professor of political science at NYU. He specializes in post-communist politics and is the Director of NYU’s Jordan Center for Advanced Study of Russia. But he is also a faculty director at the Center for Social Media and Politics. Together Nate and Josh edited a volume called Social Media and Democracy: The State of the Field and Prospects for Reform. It is available to download on the Cambridge University Press website. I highly encourage policymakers, researchers, and anyone who is curious to take a look. It features important contributions from well-known scholars such as Francis Fukuyama and Pablo Barberá on a wide range of relevant topics. In this conversation you will learn why Nate and Josh are at the forefront of research on social media. They rattle off multiple studies their teams conducted that produced groundbreaking research. Now, I have read many articles about the ways social media influences politics, but this is my first podcast where I really grapple with the challenges of the internet. I was fortunate to do so with two of the field’s most important researchers today. Key Links "Can Democracy Survive the Internet?" "From Liberation to Turmoil" Securing American Elections: Prescriptions for Enhancing the Integrity and Independence of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election and Beyond Related Content Zizi Papacharissi Dreams of What Comes After Democracy Winston Mano on Social Media and Politics in Africa... And what America can Learn from Africa about Democracy Thoughts on Cristina Flesher Fominaya's Democracy Reloaded Support the show