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How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future by Daniel Ziblatt, Steven Levitsky
idlepassage's review
2.5
Eh. For one thing I was hoping this book would detail the fall of other democracies a bit more, rather than sort of generalizing the series of events from its example countries. Very goofy choice to mention so many Latin American countries without referencing the US' coordinated efforts to destabilize the region. But ok. Was also hoping this book would also be less of a rant about trump.
Expectations aside, I appreciate the book's use of statistics and historical analyses, but found some of the conclusions it drew a little weird. For instance the argument that the electoral college is a necessary form of political gatekeeping, despite the fact that it led to a figure with authoritarian tendencies becoming elected? Nor much reference to the electoral college's relation to slavery? And while there was quite a bit of talk about America's changing demographics and a bigger shift away from christianity, I thought the book could stand to talk more about citizens united, the effect of campaign finance and super pacs (weirdly the author took the stance that small individual donations are somehow bad??), and the limits of a 2 party system. But rather, the book's central argument is that democracy's erosion comes down to the erasure of norms and decorum in our political parties? Idk bro, seems like a stretch
Expectations aside, I appreciate the book's use of statistics and historical analyses, but found some of the conclusions it drew a little weird. For instance the argument that the electoral college is a necessary form of political gatekeeping, despite the fact that it led to a figure with authoritarian tendencies becoming elected? Nor much reference to the electoral college's relation to slavery? And while there was quite a bit of talk about America's changing demographics and a bigger shift away from christianity, I thought the book could stand to talk more about citizens united, the effect of campaign finance and super pacs (weirdly the author took the stance that small individual donations are somehow bad??), and the limits of a 2 party system. But rather, the book's central argument is that democracy's erosion comes down to the erasure of norms and decorum in our political parties? Idk bro, seems like a stretch
mveldeivendran1's review against another edition
4.0
"Surely the Board knows what democracy is. It is the line that forms on the right. It is the don’t in don’t shove. It is the hole in the stuffed shirt through which the sawdust slowly trickles; it is the dent in the high hat. Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time. It is the feeling of privacy in the voting booths, the feeling of communion in the libraries, the feeling of vitality everywhere. Democracy is a letter to the editor. Democracy is the score at the beginning of the ninth. It is an idea which hasn’t been disproved yet, a song the words of which have not gone bad. It’s the mustard on the hot dog and the cream in the rationed coffee. Democracy is a request from a War Board, in the middle of a morning in the middle of a war, wanting to know what democracy is." —E. B. White
The book provides an erudite account of handfully picked case studies of failed, failing, recuperated democracies mostly in the American continents, some Eurasian countries. The authors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are the professors of Government at Harvard University in which the former one has been studying the politics of Latin American countries where as in case of the latter, it has been European countries. This book is a perfect example of a perfect unbiased nonfiction work. They could have used unnecessary details to praise the Democratic party of USA when attacking the current Republican government but didn't. They could have used the contemporary people at Harvard to support their proceedings or cherry pick the supportive data but didn't. It surprised me how much superflous unnecessary garbage information I've got to know about the American government from the liberal news media from the past few years.
Some main keys factors like hardball exploitations from the constitutional powers, evading the political forbearance and mutual tolerance have been discussed insightfully. Could be very helpful to the people who believe in the sanity of the masses to prevent the dying of democracy from within.
The book provides an erudite account of handfully picked case studies of failed, failing, recuperated democracies mostly in the American continents, some Eurasian countries. The authors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are the professors of Government at Harvard University in which the former one has been studying the politics of Latin American countries where as in case of the latter, it has been European countries. This book is a perfect example of a perfect unbiased nonfiction work. They could have used unnecessary details to praise the Democratic party of USA when attacking the current Republican government but didn't. They could have used the contemporary people at Harvard to support their proceedings or cherry pick the supportive data but didn't. It surprised me how much superflous unnecessary garbage information I've got to know about the American government from the liberal news media from the past few years.
Some main keys factors like hardball exploitations from the constitutional powers, evading the political forbearance and mutual tolerance have been discussed insightfully. Could be very helpful to the people who believe in the sanity of the masses to prevent the dying of democracy from within.
dougpoore's review
4.0
good read. no real mention of how private wealth corrodes democracy (some mention of the Koch family). equal treatment of right wing authoritarians with leftist south american leaders reaction against the dictatorships of entrenched wealth.
the 2nd half really delivers tho. focuses on the many decades long campaign of corrosion waged by the conservatives in the US, & the valid reactions of liberals which nonetheless all-together have a struggling-in-quicksand quality. culminating in the major dangers of the orange gross criminal.
well-considered analysis of how to respond & repair our unraveling democracy.
the 2nd half really delivers tho. focuses on the many decades long campaign of corrosion waged by the conservatives in the US, & the valid reactions of liberals which nonetheless all-together have a struggling-in-quicksand quality. culminating in the major dangers of the orange gross criminal.
well-considered analysis of how to respond & repair our unraveling democracy.
tanja_alina_berg's review
4.0
I have been waiting to review this book to make it stellar. I give up the attempt. If I wait any longer the only thing I will remember is that I like it. It is a scary book, particularly in the world we live in, where democracy is under threat and the United States likely will vote a dictator into office again next year. That’s the problem with democracy, people don’t vote as they should. It happened in Germany in the 1930’s too. The author gives more recent examples, particularly from South America. Read this book! It could become banned in a few short years.
rebecca76's review
4.0
The book gave a general over view of how democracies turn into dictatorships and how it is more about the un written rules then the rules themselves. The Constitution gives us the ring to argue and fight but the democratic norms should keep us from fighting dirty. They made a good point that USA has sacrificed racial equality for "democracy" the challenge is repairing the gaurd rails and continuing to move toward democracy for all. Not sure i agree with their analysis of political parties but it is food for thought.