Western Europe's Democratic Age Over the last few years it has almost become cliché to refer to the democratic recession. Many of the most fragile democracies have reversed or even collapsed. Among the most recent involves the collapse of the government in Afghanistan due to the withdrawal of American troops. The experience serves as a... Continue Reading →
Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley on the Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico
Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley join the podcast to discuss the politics behind Mexico's criminal wars. Guillermo is an Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame. Sandra is an Assistant Professor at CIDE’s Political Studies Division in Mexico City. They are the authors of Votes, Drugs, and Violence: The Political Logic of Criminal Wars... Continue Reading →
Charles Kupchan on America’s Tradition of Isolationism
Charles Kupchan joins the podcast to make sense of America's tradition of isolationism. Charles is a professor of international relations at Georgetown University and a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also the author of Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World. Beginning in the 1990s,... Continue Reading →
Aldo Madariaga on Neoliberalism, Democratic Deficits, and Chile
Aldo Madariaga joins the podcast to discuss how neoliberalism can undermine democracy. He is a Professor of Political Science at Universidad Diego Portales, and Associate Researcher at Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (COES). He is also the author of Neoliberal Resilience: Lessons in Democracy and Development from Latin America and Eastern Europe. ... Continue Reading →
Roger Lee Huang on Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Tatmadaw
Roger Lee Huang joins the podcast to explain the politics and history of Myanmar. He is he author of The Paradox of Myanmar’s Regime Change. I think this actually reflects why we've seen a coup now. Clearly, the coup has really brought serious economic devastation for the entire country and the military itself will... Continue Reading →
Mallory SoRelle on the Politics of Consumer Credit
Mallory SoRelle joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss the politics of consumer credit. She is an assistant professor of public policy at Duke University. She is the author of Democracy Declined: The Failed Politics of Consumer Financial Protection. Americans are expected to take on debt, because that's how we're expected to finance everything from... Continue Reading →
David Stasavage on Early Democracy and its Decline
David Stasavage joins the podcast to describe early democracy and its decline before its reemergence in the modern age. He is a professor of politics at New York University. His latest book is called The Decline and Rise of Democracy. This was not a phenomenon to one specific region. This was nothing that got... Continue Reading →
Sebastian Strangio Explains the Relationships Between China and Southeast Asia
Sebastian Strangio joins the podcast to discuss relationship between Southeast and China. Sebastian is the Southeast Asia editor at The Diplomat and the author of In the Dragon's Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century. This is the 50th episode of the podcast. The experience of Western colonization has imprinted all of these nations... Continue Reading →
Can America Preserve Democracy without Retreating from it? Robert C. Lieberman on the Four Threats
Robert C. Lieberman joins the podcast to discuss a book he coauthored with Suzanne Mettler, Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy. Rob is a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University. This is the 48th episode of the Democracy Paradox podcast. Racism and racial conflict are always there, always a powerful and... Continue Reading →
Derek W. Black Says Public Education Represents the Idea of America… Not its Reality
Derek W. Black explains how the expansion of public education has developed alongside democracy in America. His recent book Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy links the current threat to public education to attacks on democracy. This is the 46th episode of the Democracy Paradox podcast. I find it hard to believe,... Continue Reading →