Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders

In this episode, Justin interviews Susan Stokes, the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Director of the Chicago Center on Democracy. They discuss her new book The Backsliders , which explains how economic inequality and political polarization create conditions that allow leaders to undermine democratic institutions. She explores the roles of populism, voter behavior, and institutional erosion in democratic backsliding worldwide. Read the transcript here . The Democracy Paradox is made in partnership with the Kellogg Institute at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Chapters Introduction - 0:20 Leadership - 3:51 Economic Inequality - 6:35 Polarization - 19:35 Populism - 27:27 Key Links Learn more about Susan Stokes . Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine their Own Democracies Victoria Murillo - The Social Underpinnings of Political Discontent in Latin America - September 23rd, 12:30pm - 2:00pm Central Time. If you can't make it, click here to watch the video! Check out this year's visiting fellows to the Kellogg Institute here . Support the show

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Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders is an episode from Democracy Paradox by Justin Kempf.

This episode is 40:42 long.

This episode was published on Sep 17, 2025.

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