Democracy Paradox

Weekly conversations on democracy, authoritarianism and political theory AI summary

Justin Kempf Visit website › Government · EN · 242 episodes · latest 2026-11-11

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What it is about

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.

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
© 2026 Democracy Paradox

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Latest episodes

Laura Gamboa Explains How to Break an Autocrat’s Coalition

2026-11-11 · 50 min · Season 2, episode 30

People don't get points for fighting for their country. The reward you get is your country. Laura Gamboa Laura Gamboa is an Associate Professor of Democracy and Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and a…
Francis Fukuyama Reflects on the End of History and His Legacy

2026-10-28 · 48 min · Season 2, episode 29

I'm not sure that that understanding of American exceptionalism is that powerful and that the United States may be a much more ordinary kind of democracy than I used to think. Francis Fukuyama Francis Fukuyama is the…
Michael McFaul Says Powerful Autocracies as a Lasting Threat

2026-10-14 · 47 min · Season 2, episode 28

We don’t need to export ideas about freedom and democracy because those ideas are already really popular around the world. Michael McFaul Why do some powerful countries become adversaries while others remain enduring…
Ian Shapiro Says the Left's "Preemptive Capitulation" to Neoliberalism Paved the Way for Populism

2026-09-30 · 49 min · Season 2, episode 27

If we want people to support democratic capitalism, it has to be a kind of democratic capitalism that delivers for most people, and we haven't had that. Ian Shapiro What went wrong after the Cold War – and what can…
Noam Lupu Says Support for Democracy Is Growing in the Americas, But Not Necessarily Liberal Democracy

2026-09-16 · 45 min · Season 2, episode 26

The irony of democratic backsliding is a lot of these things are pitched to people and understood by people as actually pro-democratic. Noam Lupu Support for democracy is rising across the Americas after more than a…
Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis Fear Autocracies Are Hijacking the International Order

2026-09-02 · 50 min · Season 2, episode 26

There was an assumption that influence could only run one direction... but influence could run the other direction as well. Alexander Cooley Authoritarian governments are exercising growing influence not only within…
Suzanne Mettler Says the Rural-Urban Divide Threatens American Democracy

2026-08-19 · 49 min · Season 2, episode 25

We barely disagree with each other, but we can't stand one another's party. Suzanne Mettler Suzanne Mettler is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions at Cornell University. She is the coauthor of Four…
Rachel Beatty Riedl Says Economic Inequality Is Fueling Democratic Backsliding

2026-08-05 · 47 min · Season 2, episode 24

I'm by nature optimistic, but am extremely worried because of the structural moment we live in. Rachel Beatty Riedl Political scientist Rachel Beatty Riedl joins host Justin Kempf to examine how extreme economic…
Kim Lane Scheppele on Hungary's Narrow Path Back to Democracy

2026-07-22 · 52 min · Season 2, episode 23

You can only get to the point of restoring democratic institutions if you win the last election with such a huge majority that you really have the public with you as you make radical change. Kim Lane Scheppele Kim Lane…
Jeffrey Kopstein Explains Why Polarization Turns Violent

2026-07-08 · 46 min · Season 2, episode 22

The question is not whether polarization is dangerous, but the conditions under which it becomes violent. Jeffrey Kopstein Jeffrey Kopstein joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss when polarization turns violent. Drawing…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 06/2020 · over 6 years
Typical length: 49 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone
Keywords: democracy, political science, politics, philosophy, political theory, conservatism, liberalism, polarization

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