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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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Episodes235

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  • Aug 9, 2022 · 34 min

    Jessica Pisano on How Zelenskyy Changed Ukraine

    There were lots of opportunities for a certain part of Ukrainian society to encounter Zelenskyy and to feel that they knew him. He was not an unknown quantity when he ran for president. So, I think that's important for us to keep in mind. I would say the so-called Western World is still discovering who he is, but his loyalty, his integrity, his ideas or his group's ideas about Ukrainian political nationhood have been in the works for a long time. Jessica Pisano Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Jessica Pisano is Associate Professor in the Department of Politics at the New School for Social Research. She is the author of "How Zelensky Changed Ukraine" in the Journal of Democracy and Staging Democracy: Political Performance in Ukraine, Russia, and Beyond. Key Highlights Introduction - 0:49 Early Career of Zelenskyy - 2:58 What is Political Theater? - 10:30 Zelenskyy Changes Politics in Ukraine - 17:26 Zelenskyy as President - 22:43 Future of Ukraine - 30:41 Key Links Learn more about Jessica Pisano "How Zelensky Changed Ukraine" by Jessica Pisano in the Journal of Democracy Staging Democracy: Political Performance in Ukraine, Russia, and Beyond by Jessica Pisano Democracy Paradox Podcast Michael McFaul and Robert Person on Putin, Russia, and the War in Ukraine Lucan Way on Ukraine. Democracy in Hard Places. More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Aug 2, 2022 · 38 min

    Neil DeVotta on the Protests in Sri Lanka

    As long as people are able to cast their ballot, irrespective of the illiberalism, irrespective of all these other shortcomings, democracy, at least from a voting standpoint, has the capacity to surprise. Neil Devotta Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Neil DeVotta is professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University. His article "Sri Lanka's Agony" was published in this July's issue of Journal of Democracy. Key Highlights Introduction - 0:38 Overview of the Protests - 3:15 Protests After the Rajapaksas - 15:16 Background on the Rajapaksas - 24:58 Sri Lanka and Democracy - 30:31 Future of Sri Lanka - 34:11 Key Links Learn more about Neil DeVotta "Sri Lanka's Agony" by Neil DeVotta in the Journal of Democracy "Sri Lanka: The Return to Ethnocracy" by Neil DeVotta in the Journal of Democracy Democracy Paradox Podcast Ashutosh Varshney on India. Democracy in Hard Places Mark Beissinger on Urban Civic Revolutions More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jul 26, 2022 · 43 min

    Aynne Kokas on the Intersection Between Surveillance Capitalism and Chinese Sharp Power (or How Much Does the CCP Already Know About You?)

    The US consumer system is uniquely exploitative. US consumers are exploited by American companies, by French companies, by German companies, by Chinese companies, because there aren't laws protecting consumer data privacy that extend widely across the US consumer ecosystem. The main difference with Chinese companies is that the Chinese government has established an entire framework that pressures Chinese firms to share their data with Chinese government regulators. Aynne Kokas Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Aynne Kokas is an associate professor of media studies and the C.K. Yen Chair at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Her most recent book is Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty. Her article "How Beijing Runs the Show in Hollywood" was published in this April's issue of Journal of Democracy. Key Highlights Introduction - 0:50 Video Games as Social Media - 3:02 Chinese Brands in the US Tech Market - 11:34 Party Control of China's Tech Industry - 19:40 America's Lack of Tech Regulations - 28:36 The Big Picture - 37:03 Key Links Learn more about Aynne Kokas Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty by Aynne Kokas "How Beijing Runs the Show in Hollywood" by Aynne Kokas in the Journal of Democracy Visit the Miller Center at the University of Virginia Democracy Paradox Podcast Ronald Deibert from Citizen Lab on Cyber Surveillance, Digital Subversion, and Transnational Repression Mareike Ohlberg on the Global Influence of the Chinese Communist Party More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jul 19, 2022 · 34 min

    Michael McFaul and Robert Person on Putin, Russia, and the War in Ukraine

    There are a lot of people quietly who are deeply frustrated with this war. Every rich person in Russia with one or two exceptions are frustrated with this war. I think many of the so-called liberal technocratic elites in the government are frustrated with this war. Lots of regional leaders are frustrated with this war. It's not just the vocal opposition. I think there's a quiet minority and maybe even majority that is exhausted with what Putin has done. Michael McFaul Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, is professor of political science at Stanford University, director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. His most recent book is From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia (2018). Robert Person is associate professor of international relations at the U.S. Military Academy, director of its international affairs curriculum, and faculty affiliate at its Modern War Institute. Their essay "What Putin Fears Most" was published as an online exclusive from the Journal of Democracy in February and was included in the April 2022 issue. Key Highlights Introduction 0:48 Personal Account from Michael McFaul 3:16 Putin's Objectives 7:44 What would Russia be like without Putin? 12:22 Challenges for democracy in Ukraine 20:10 Effectiveness of sanctions 24:15 Where is the Russian Revolution going? 27:11 Key Links Learn more about Michael McFaul "What Putin Fears Most" by Robert Person and Michael McFaul in the Journal of Democracy From Cold War To Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin's Russia by Michael McFaul Democracy Paradox Podcast Kathryn Stoner on How Putin’s War has Ruined Russia Marta Dyczok and Andriy Kulokov on the Media, Information Warriors, and the Future of Ukraine More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jul 12, 2022 · 43 min

    Scott Mainwaring on Argentina and a Final Reflection on Democracy in Hard Places

    I think they're really important. But I don't think that they are a complete safeguard. Certainly, when you create democracies in hard places, you want to think very carefully about what institutions you want in place and how you strengthen them. But if you get illiberal governing parties in democracies in hard places, they can run over institutions. Scott Mainwaring Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Scott Mainwaring is the Eugene P. and Helen Conley Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. He is also a faculty fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, where he previously served as director for 13 years and is a current Advisory Board member. He is the coeditor (with Tarek Masoud) of Democracy in Hard Places. Key Highlights Introduction 0:47 Why is Argentina a hard place for democracy? 2:35 Are democracies in hard places the exception or the norm? 9:19 Is Peronism a threat to democracy? 12:01 How can democracies strengthen institutions? 19:32 What role do citizens play? 33:27 Key Links Learn more about Scott Mainwaring "The Fates Of Third-Wave Democracies" by Scott Mainwaring and Fernando Bizarro in the Journal of Democracy Democracy in Hard Places edited by Scott Mainwaring and Tarek Masoud Democracy Paradox Podcast Lucan Way on Ukraine. Democracy in Hard Places. Rachel Beatty Riedl on Benin. Democracy in Hard Places. More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jul 5, 2022 · 40 min

    Lucan Way on Ukraine. Democracy in Hard Places

    The war is never going to really end. Because even in the most optimistic scenario where Ukraine regains its territory and it goes back to the 1991 borders, Russia is almost certainly going to present a permanent threat to Ukrainian sovereignty. I think objectively it will. But even if objectively it wasn’t, after such an invasion, you can imagine the political environment's going to treat it as one. Lucan Way Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Lucan Way is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. He coauthored (along with Steven Levitsky) Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War. He has a new book also coauthored with Steven Levitsky due this fall called Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism. He is the author of the chapter "Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine: Democratic Moments in the Former Soviet Union" in the book Democracy in Hard Places. Key Highlights What makes Zelensky such a special leader? Why wasn't Ukraine considered more democratic before Russia's invasion? How has the war impacted democracy in Ukraine? What role did Ukraine's ethnic pluralism contribute to democratization? What challenges will Ukrainian democracy face after its war with Russia? Key Links Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism by Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way Follow the Lucan Way on Twitter @LucanWay "The Rebirth of the Liberal World Order?" by Lucan Way in the Journal of Democracy Democracy in Hard Places edited by Scott Mainwaring and Tarek Masoud Democracy Paradox Podcast Sarah Repucci from Freedom House with an Update on Freedom in the World Stephan Haggard and Robert Kaufman on Democratic Backsliding More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jun 28, 2022 · 34 min

    Michael Coppedge on Why Democracies Emerge, Why They Decline, and Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem)

    Democracy is a complex concept. It has to do with elections. It has to do with legislatures. It has to do with civil society organizations and courts and political styles of politicians. There's a lot packed into the concept and it's multidimensional, because some of these components don't move together. Michael Coppedge Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Michael Coppedge is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, a principal investigator of the Varieties of Democracy project, and a faculty fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. He is a coeditor (along with Amanda Edgell, Carl Henrik Knutsen, and Staffan Lindberg) of Why Democracies Develop and Decline. Key Highlights Democracy as a multidimensional concept How the conditions for democratization differ from those for backsliding Ways researchers use information from V-Dem to discover new insights about democracy New findings from V-Dem research regarding presidentialism, party system institutionalization, and anti-system parties How has V-Dem changed research about democracy Key Links Learn more about the Varieties of Democracy Project Follow the V-Dem Institute on Twitter @vdeminstitute Why Democracies Develop and Decline edited by Michael Coppedge, Amanda B. Edgell, Carl Henrik Knutsen and Staffan I. Lindberg Democracy Paradox Podcast Sarah Repucci from Freedom House with an Update on Freedom in the World Stephan Haggard and Robert Kaufman on Democratic Backsliding More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jun 21, 2022 · 46 min

    Rachel Beatty Riedl on Benin. Democracy in Hard Places.

    So, at some level, a belief in democracy was necessary in Benin as in elsewhere. Support for it - Absolutely. But what's interesting in the Benin case is that you were lacking that level of political elite leadership that were committed democratic ideologues. Rachel Beatty Riedl Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Rachel Beatty Riedl is the John S. Knight Professor of International Studies, Director of the Einaudi Center for International Studies, and professor in the Department of Government at Cornell University. She also cohosts the podcast Ufahamu Africa with Kim Yi Dionne. Her chapter "Africa’s Democratic Outliers Success amid Challenges in Benin and South Africa" appears in the forthcoming book Democracy in Hard Places. Key Highlights Details the story of Benin's democratization How Benin has used consensus to govern What makes Benin a democracy in a hard place An overview of the current President Patrice Talon Current threats to democracy in Benin Key Links Learn more about the Einaudi Center for International Studies Listen to the Ufahamu Podcast Follow Rachel Beatty Riedl on Twitter @BeattyRiedl Democracy in Hard Places edited by Scott Mainwaring and Tarek Masoud Democracy Paradox Podcast Evan Lieberman on South Africa Christophe Jaffrelot on Narendra Modi and Hindu Nationalism More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jun 14, 2022 · 53 min

    Ashutosh Varshney on India. Democracy in Hard Places

    Nehru is asked several times in those early years, ‘Aren’t you doing something which has never been done before? You are 17% literate. Half of your country is below the poverty line. Under such conditions no democracy has ever stabilize itself and perhaps has not emerged.’ And his argument repeatedly is that we shouldn't be constrained by the history of the West. Ashutosh Varshney Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Ashutosh Varshney is the Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences and Professor of Political Science at Brown University, where he also directs the Center for Contemporary South Asia. His chapter "India’s Democratic Longevity and Its Troubled Trajectory" appears in the forthcoming book Democracy in Hard Places. Key Highlights How India defied early theories of democratization The role of leadership in India's early democracy Why India returned to democracy after Indira Gandhi's emergency? The eerie similarities between India's recent treatment of Muslims and the rise of the Jim Crow era in the American South When will democratic backsliding in India become a democratic collapse Key Links "Modi Consolidates Power: Electoral Vibrancy, Mounting Liberal Deficits" by Ashutosh Varshney in Journal of Democracy Learn more about Ashutosh Varshney at www.ashutoshvarshney.net Follow Ashutosh Varshney on Twitter @ProfVarshney Democracy in Hard Places edited by Scott Mainwaring and Tarek Masoud Democracy Paradox Podcast Dan Slater on Indonesia Christophe Jaffrelot on Narendra Modi and Hindu Nationalism More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Jun 7, 2022 · 47 min

    Evan Lieberman on South Africa. Democracy in Hard Places

    When you hear people talk in such disparaging tones, that everything is broken, that nothing is possible, you need to ask yourself, is that right? When you look around, the answer is no. There are these examples where things do go right, where people work together and create a neighborhood or a community for themselves in which they can be prosperous and build better lives. And that's really what the democratic project is all about. Evan Lieberman Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Evan Lieberman is a Professor of Political Science and Contemporary Africa at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Director of the MIT Global Diversity Lab, and the faculty director of the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI). He is the coauthor with Rorisang Lekalake of the recent article "South Africa's Resilient Democracy" in the Journal of Democracy and author of the forthcoming book Until We Have Won Our Liberty: South Africa after Apartheid. Key Highlights Why is Evan Lieberman optimistic about democracy in South Africa Role of Nelson Mandela on South Africa's democracy Importance of South Africa for democracy in the world Account of the housing community Ethembalethu What the 2019 election says about democracy in South Africa Key Links Until We Have Won Our Liberty: South Africa after Apartheid by Evan Lieberman "South Africa’s Resilient Democracy" by Evan Lieberman and Rorisang Lekalake in Journal of Democracy Learn more about Evan Lieberman at www.evanlieberman.org Follow Evan Lieberman on Twitter @evlieb Democracy in Hard Places edited by Scott Mainwaring and Tarek Masoud Democracy Paradox Podcast Dan Slater on Indonesia Nic Cheeseman and Gabrielle Lynch on the Moral Economy of Elections in Africa More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • May 31, 2022 · 50 min

    Dan Slater on Indonesia. Democracy in Hard Places

    This might sound like a cliche, but in Indonesia it's really, really true. My hope rests in the Indonesian people and the voters. I mean, the voters, they show up. The voters have been the ones to defend democracy. They've been the ones to reject the most anti-pluralistic candidates, not all Indonesian voters, but a slim majority. They've been managing to do it. Dan Slater Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Dan Slater is the Weiser Professor of Emerging Democracies in the Department of Political Science and director of the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies at the University of Michigan. Dan is also the coauthor of the forthcoming book From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia with Joseph Wong. Key Highlights A brief account of how Indonesia democratized What is democratization through strength How elites held onto power after democratization What makes Indonesia a hard place for democracy The current state of Indonesia's democracy Key Links From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia by Dan Slater and Joseph Wong Democracy in Hard Places edited by Scott Mainwaring and Tarek Masoud Follow Dan Slater on Twitter @SlaterPolitics Democracy Paradox Podcast Donald Horowitz on the Formation of Democratic Constitutions Sebastian Strangio Explains the Relationship Between China and Southeast Asia More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • May 24, 2022 · 39 min

    Kathryn Stoner on How Putin's War has Ruined Russia

    Boeing is pulling out, DuPont, Erickson, Analog Devices, Bombardier. Eventually all of these things are going to cause supply and production chain issues and unemployment in Russia. So, Mr. Putin doesn't have an infinite amount of time before havoc is wrought. Kathryn Stoner Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Kathryn Stoner is the Mosbacher Director at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, a professor of political science at Stanford University, and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. She is also the author of the book Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order. Her article “How Putin’s War Has Ruined Russia” was recently published online at journalofdemocracy.org. Key Highlights How has Russia's invasion of Ukraine affected perceptions of Russia's military How has it affected its economy both short-term and long-term How has it affected Russia's international standing The affects on Russia's citizens What does Putin's unpredictability mean for peace in Ukraine Key Links "How Putin’s War in Ukraine Has Ruined Russia" by Kathryn Stoner in Journal of Democracy Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order by Kathryn Stoner Follow Kathryn Stoner on Twitter @kath_stoner Democracy Paradox Podcast Moisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political Power Kathryn Stoner on Russia’s Economy, Politics, and Foreign Policy More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • May 17, 2022 · 50 min

    Scott Radnitz on Why Conspiracy Theories Thrive in Both Democracies and Autocracies

    There's something natural and organic about perceiving that the people in power are out to advance their own interests. It's in part because it’s often true. Governments actually do keep secrets from the public. Politicians engage in scandals. There often is corruption at high levels. So, we don't want citizens in a democracy to be too trusting of their politicians. It's healthy to be skeptical of the state and its real abuses and tendencies towards secrecy. The danger is when this distrust gets redirected, not toward the state, but targets innocent people who are not actually responsible for people's problems. Scott Radnitz Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. *Please note during the interview the host says "conspiracy" rather than "conspiracy theory." The transcript has been corrected.* Scott Radnitz is an associate professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the University of Washington and the director of the Ellison Center for Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies. He is the author of Revealing Schemes: The Politics of Conspiracy in Russia and the Post-Soviet Region and coeditor with Harris Mylonas of the forthcoming book Enemies Within: The Global Politics of Fifth Columns. His article “Why Democracy Fuels Conspiracy Theories” was recently published in the Journal of Democracy. Key Highlights Conspiracy theories Russia uses to justify their invasion of Ukraine Why Russia relies on conspiracy theories in its political rhetoric The use of conspiracy theories in democracies and autocracies The recent proliferation of conspiracy theories in the United States How to mitigate the harmful effects of conspiracy theories in politics Key Links "Why Democracy Fuels Conspiracy Theories" by Scott Radnitz in Journal of Democracy Revealing Schemes: The Politics of Conspiracy in Russia and the Post-Soviet Region by Scott Radnitz Enemies Within: The Global Politics of Fifth Columns edited by Harris Mylonas and Scott Radnitz Democracy Paradox Podcast Ronald Deibert from Citizen Lab on Cyber Surveillance, Digital Subversion, and Transnational Repression Moisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political Power More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • May 13, 2022 · 35 min

    Dan Banik is In Pursuit of Development

    This bonus episode is part of a series of interviews available for monthly supporters of Democracy Paradox at Patreon. Other interviews feature guests like Julia Azari, Mila Atmos, and Bob Shrum. But more importantly you'll help the podcast cover important expenses and continue to grow. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter by clicking on the link here. If you want to help the podcast in other ways, please email the host, Justin Kempf, at jkempf@democracyparadox.com. Dan Banik is a professor of political science at the University of Oslo and Director of the Oslo SDG Initiative. He also hosts the podcast In Pursuit of Development. His podcast is among the most insightful on topics of democracy, modernization, and sustainability. Past guests have included Francis Fukuyama and Daron Acemoglu. But it's Dan's ability to help listeners understand complex ideas and subjects that sets his podcast apart. In Pursuit of Development Follow on Twitter @GlobalDevPod Follow Dan on Twitter @danbanik Support the show

  • May 10, 2022 · 50 min

    Ronald Deibert from Citizen Lab on Cyber Surveillance, Digital Subversion, and Transnational Repression

    So, if your aim is to get inside someone's device without their permission and gather up information, you could do that using a very sophisticated commercial spyware technology like Pegasus. The latest iteration of it employs zero click technology meaning that it can target and insert itself on any device without the owner of that device even knowing or being tricked into clicking on a link. That's very powerful, because there is no defense against it. Ronald Deibert A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Ronald Deibert is a professor of political science at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Citizen Lab. He recently gave the 18th annual Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture at the National Endowment for Democracy. Its title was “Digital Subversion: The Threat to Democracy.” His article, “Subversion Inc: The Age of Private Espionage” in the most recent Journal of Democracy is based on this lecture. Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key Highlights How Black Cube tried to infiltrate Citizen Lab How autocrats continue to repress political dissidents overseas The privatization of espionage and spycraft The link between surveillance capitalism and private espionage What liberal democracies can do to defend civil society Key Links Citizen Lab Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture "Digital Subversion: The Threat to Democracy" by Ronald Deibert "Subversion Inc: The Age of Private Espionage" by Ronald Deibert in Journal of Democracy Democracy Paradox Podcast Can Democracy Survive the Internet? Nate Persily and Josh Tucker on Social Media and Democracy Winston Mano on Social Media and Politics in Africa… And what America can Learn from Africa about Democracy More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • May 3, 2022 · 30 min

    Thomas Piketty on Equality

    Pure economic factors or technological factors or the level of economic development or level of technological development cannot explain the diversity of levels of inequality and structure of inequality that we observe throughout history. Thomas Piketty A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Thomas Piketty is Professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and the Paris School of Economics and Codirector of the World Inequality Lab. He is also the author of A Brief History of Equality. Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key Highlights The Case for Reparations for Haiti An Account of the Historical Movement Toward Greater Equality Economic Inequality as a Political Construction Should Economic Equality be the Goal of the State? Is Thomas Piketty Optimistic for the Future? Key Links A Brief History of Equality by Thomas Piketty Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty Follow Thomas Piketty on Twitter @PikettyLeMonde Democracy Paradox Podcast Joseph Fishkin on the Constitution, American History, and Economic Inequality Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican Party More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Apr 26, 2022 · 53 min

    Marta Dyczok and Andriy Kulykov on the Media, Information Warriors, and the Future of Ukraine

    I heard a verified story of a person who made his way with his family from an occupied town listening to our broadcast, because we were telling them where it was dangerous for them to go and where it was more or less safe to go. So, radio actually saves lives. I probably cannot save lives otherwise. But I can with the help of radio. Andriy Kulykov Recorded on April 19th, 2022. A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Marta Dyczok is an Associate Professor at the Departments of History and Political Science, Western University, Canada. She was the host of the podcast Ukraine Calling. Andriy Kulykov is co-founder and Chairperson of Hromadske Radio. Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key Highlights A Short History of Hromadske Radio Do Journalists in Ukraine Consider Themselves Information Warriors The Importance of Media Literacy in a War How Radio Can Saved Lives in Ukraine Andriy's Thoughts on Ukrainian Identity Key Links Ukraine Calling: A Kaleidoscope from Hromadske Radio 2016–2019 edited by Marta Dyczok Listen to the Ukraine Calling Podcast Learn more about Hromadske Radio Democracy Paradox Podcast Between Russia and China: Anja Mihr on Central Asia Joshua Yaffa on Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin’s Russia More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Apr 19, 2022 · 50 min

    Yascha Mounk on the Great Experiment of Diverse Democracies

    So, there's actually something about the basic mechanism of democracy that does make it harder to sustain diversity. In other ways, the principles of liberal democracy are the right solution. And so, obviously my vision for the future is that of a diverse democracy. But we shouldn't be at ease about the ways in which democracy can sometimes inflame ethnic and religious tensions as well. Yascha Mounk A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Yascha Mounk is a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University and the founder of Persuasion. Mounk is also a contributing editor at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure. Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key Highlights Is a diverse democracy more democratic Challenges for diverse democracies Yascha's vision for diverse societies The most dangerous idea in American Politics Is it more difficult for diverse ideas to flourish? Key Links The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure by Yascha Mounk Read more from Yascha Mounk at Persuassion Follow Yascha Mounk @Yascha_Mounk Democracy Paradox Podcast Elisabeth Ivarsflaten and Paul Sniderman on Inclusion and Respect of Muslim Minorities Sara Wallace Goodman on Citizen Responses to Democratic Threats More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Apr 12, 2022 · 49 min

    Mark Beissinger on Contemporary Urban Civic Revolutions

    I think the revolutionary process has become somewhat less consequential in some ways. The ability to bring about substantive change in the wake of revolution has deteriorated for one thing. We've gained certain things as well. I mean, revolutions are no longer as violent as they once were. They're more frequent than they once were, almost more normal in terms of being part of the political landscape in a way that they were not in the past. Mark Beissinger A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Mark Beissinger is a professor of politics at Princeton University and the author of the new book The Revolutionary City: Urbanization and the Global Transformation of Rebellion. Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key Highlights An Account of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine Description of Urban Civic Revolutions Why are Revolutions more Successful than in the Past? Why are Revolutions Less Violent? How do Revolutions Continue to Change? Key Links The Revolutionary City: Urbanization and the Global Transformation of Rebellion by Mark Beissinger Learn more about Mark Beissinger at Princeton University Learn more about Mark Beissinger at Wikipedia Democracy Paradox Podcast Erica Chenoweth on Civil Resistance George Lawson on Revolution More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show

  • Apr 5, 2022 · 58 min

    Craig Whitlock on the Lessons Learned in Afghanistan

    It's still shocking to me to read a lot of these documents and interviews in, The Afghanistan Papers, things that most people would think are obvious. What's the plan to end the war? What benchmarks do we have to achieve so that we know we can leave? You know, none of those things were thought out or articulated. Craig Whitlock A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com. Craig Whitlock is an investigative reporter at The Washington Post and the author of The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War. Support Democracy Paradox on Patreon for bonus episodes and exclusive updates and information. Key Highlights When did the War in Afghanistan Go Wrong The Lies and Deception in Communications on the War Differences in the Approach to the War Between Bush and Obama Failures to Provide a Long-Term Political Solution Lessons for Involvement in Ukraine and Beyond Key Links The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War by Craig Whitlock Afghanistan Papers Document Database at The Washington Post "At War With Truth" by Craig Whitlock Democracy Paradox Podcast Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili and Ilia Murtazashvili on Afghanistan, Local Institutions, and Self-Governance Karen Greenberg on the War on Terror, Donald Trump, and American Democracy More Episodes from the Podcast More Information Democracy Group Apes of the State created all Music Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com Follow on Twitter @DemParadox 100 Books on Democracy Support the show