A new perspective on democratic backsliding

Democratic erosion, also known as democratic backsliding, has been an ongoing debate among scholars and citizens alike amid the rise of populism and authoritarianism around the world. In order to understand how to strengthen democracy, we must understand how this erosion happens.

Larry M. Bartels, University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University, and author of Democracy for Realists and has a new book that explores this very question: Democracy Erodes from the Top: Leaders, Citizens, and the Challenge of Populism in Europe.

Bartels recently joined the Democracy Paradox podcast to discuss what constitutes a crisis of democracy, the role of political elites in democratic backsliding, and more.

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Democracy Paradox: Larry Bartels Says Democracy Erodes from the Top

‍Hear Democracy Paradox host Justin Kempf's full interview with Larry Bartels.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

How Do We Fix It?: Let's Rebuild Local News

Since 2004, as the U.S. population has grown, the number of newsroom employees has dropped by 57 percent. Anna Brugmann, policy director of Rebuild Local News, joins How Do We Fix It? to explain how  "the internet disrupted the local journalism model" from advertising to covering local events.

Our Body Politic: The State of America Summit: How Storytelling and Civic Engagement go Hand and Hand

Tune in to this episode of Our Body Politic to hear from a panel from the 92nd Street Y’s State of America Summit. This panel discusses the power of storytelling and civil society as well as how values play a part in identity and America.

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Politics in Question: Is America too polarized or too fragmented?

‍Rick Pildes, Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU Law, joins Politics in Question to consider two different explanations for America's present political dysfunction. Why is American politics presently dysfunctional? How has political fragmentation affected politics in the past? These are some of the questions answered in this episode.

FEATURED EXPERTS

Democracy Works: Jamila Michener on the impact of government assistance: Democracy Works

‍Jamila Michener is an associate professor of government at Cornell University and author of Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics. Her studies focus on the politics of Medicaid and how the fight for Medicaid sheds light on larger issues in American democracy.

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The Bully Pulpit: Stavros Lambrinidis on the European Union: The Bully Pulpit

Stavros Lambrinidis currently works as the  European Union Ambassador to the U.S. In the past he has served as the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Foreign Affairs Minister of Greece, and Vice-President of the European Parliament, and many more honorable positions. Lambrinidis joins the Bully Pulpit to discuss the EU and its relationship to the United States.