Name: Elda Mengisto's review of How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky
Item: How Democracies Die
Rating: 4
Author: Elda Mengisto

Steven Levitsky

Daniel Ziblatt

Fateful alliances -- Gatekeeping in America -- The great Republican abdication -- Subverting democracy -- The guardrails of democracy -- The unwritten rules of American politics -- The unraveling -- Trump against the guardrails -- Saving democracy

How Democracies Die

Carlos Becker

Elda Mengisto

"Many Americans are justifiably frightened by what is happening to our country. But protecting our democracy requires more than just fright our outrage. We must be humble and bold...History doesn't repeat itself. But it rhymes." (10)

With the end of this introduction, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argue that democracies don't always die with a bang or a coup d'etat, but rather, a series of salami-slicing at institutions and norms which are held up to preserve this governmental ideal. This idea of drifting toward authoritarianism can also be seen in Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny". Like with Snyder, it bases it on historical examples and is a clear warning against complacency.

Unlike Snyder, however, we see a more international scope of how political democracies waver, not just those in 1920s-30s Europe. However, Levitsky and Ziblatt utilize this in their earliest chapters, in which they document how forging alliances against authoritarian currents becomes significant in weeding them out from certain parties, and how others were completely overwhelmed. He also takes examples in Peru, Venezuela, and Chile to how without keeping referees accountable, without solid resistance in the media, and commitments towards democratic norms, democracies can be washed away. Especially with the democratic recession in the last decade, I found it significant to see how other democracies "died", and how they could be preserved.

However, what I found most compelling was how they wrote about the United States in particular, and how the American experiment was just that--an experiment. On the surface, it looks stable, in that it has a long-lasting constitution and stable checks and balances. However, Levitsky and Ziblatt show how American norms were built over time, challenged, and reinforced. From court packing to party nominations, it documents the malleable nature of American democracy.

One interesting thing was about how race was intimately tied to two concepts: tolerance and institutional forebearance. Polarization due to the slavery debate led to the Civil War, followed by Reconstruction. And yet, "mutual toleration was established onl after the issue of racial equality was removed from the political agenda" (124). This established a Pyrrhic victory: while there would be a stable democracy in the United States, it came at the cost of full democratization. So when civil rights were reconsidered 50 years ago, it became a polarizing topic again.

Overall, "How Democracies Die" is a good overview, and a good reminder to not take American norms for granted. While the authors primarily on the history of removing democratic norms, they also give practical advice to preserve it. I like their desire to focus on re-establishing/reinforcing norms and focusing on income inequality to tame down extremist elements. It's good they dis-encourage "fighting fire with fire" from the Democratic Party, but I wonder how far they could actually go while doing so (8/10).

Nelson Zagalo

"How Democracies Die" (2018) é um livro de Steven Levitsky e Daniel Ziblatt, dois professores de ciência política dos EUA, especializados no estudo das políticas da América do Sul e em Política Comparada. Escreveram este livro como reação à subida de Trump ao poder, e para explicarem que apesar das pessoas acalentarem a ideia de que os EUA são um país diferente e capaz de suster todo o tipo de ataques contra a sua democracia, na realidade são uma democracia com as mesmas fragilidades de qualquer outra no globo.

Para quem não estuda política, ou não é norte-americano, o interesse do livro está mais na discussão geral sobre o que são democracias, como se erguem e como caem. Para esse efeito os autores convocam exemplos de todo o mundo, com maior incidência na América Latina. Fazem um trabalho excecional demonstrativo da força e das fragilidades das democracias, dando conta das alterações ocorridas nas últimas décadas em termos da sua destruição. Isso mesmo resume-se no excerto que deixo aqui:


“É assim que as democracias agora morrem."

"A ditadura ostensiva – sob a forma de fascismo, comunismo ou domínio militar – desapareceu em grande parte do mundo. Golpes militares e outras tomadas violentas do poder são raros. A maioria dos países realiza eleições regulares. As Democracias continuam a morrer, mas por meios diferentes. Desde o final da Guerra Fria, a maior parte dos colapsos democráticos não foi causada por generais e soldados, mas pelos próprios governos eleitos. Tal como Chávez na Venezuela, líderes eleitos subverteram as instituições democráticas em países como a Geórgia, Hungria, Nicarágua, Peru, Filipinas, Polônia, Rússia, Sri Lanka, Turquia e Ucrânia. O retrocesso democrático hoje começa nas urnas.”

“A via eleitoral para o colapso é perigosamente enganosa. Com um golpe de Estado clássico, como no Chile de Pinochet, a morte da democracia é imediata e evidente para todos. O palácio presidencial arde em chamas. O presidente é morto, aprisionado ou exilado. A Constituição é suspensa ou abandonada. Mas pela via eleitoral, nada disso acontece. Não há tanques nas ruas. Constituições e outras instituições nominalmente democráticas mantêm-se funcionais. As pessoas continuam a votar. Os autocratas eleitos mantêm um verniz de democracia enquanto vão eviscerando a sua essência.”

“Muitos esforços do governo para subverter a democracia são “legais”, no sentido em que são aprovados pela legislatura ou aceites pelos tribunais. Eles podem mesmo ser retratados como esforços para aperfeiçoar a democracia — tornar o sistema judiciário mais eficiente, combater a corrupção ou limpar o processo eleitoral. Os jornais continuam a ser publicados, mas são comprados ou intimidados e levados à auto-censura. Os cidadãos continuam a criticar o governo, mas muitas vezes veem-se envolvidos em problemas com impostos ou outras questões legais. Isso cria perplexidade e confusão nas pessoas. Elas não compreendem imediatamente o que está a acontecer. Muitos continuam a acreditar que vivem em democracia. Em 2011, uma pesquisa da LatinoBarómetro perguntou aos venezuelanos que nota dariam ao seu país de 1 (“nada democrático”) a 10 (“completamente democrático”), e 51% dos respondentes deram 8 ou mais.”

“Como não há um momento único — nenhum golpe, declaração de lei marcial ou suspensão da Constituição – em que o regime obviamente “ultrapassa o limite” para a ditadura, nada dispara os dispositivos de alarme da sociedade. Aqueles que denunciam os abusos do governo podem ser descartados como exagerados ou falsos alarmistas. A erosão da democracia é, para muitos, quase imperceptível.”


Este resumo é o cerne do livro, que por sua vez corresponde a uma súmula que os autores referem como 

4 Indicadores do Comportamento Autoritário

1.“Rejeição (ou fraco compromisso com) as regras democráticas do jogo." 
2.“Negação da legitimidade dos opositores políticos." 
3.“Tolerância ou incentivo à violência." 
4. “Prontidão para reduzir as liberdades civis dos opositores, incluindo os meios de comunicação social".

O resto do livro é um pouco menos relevante, ainda que muito relevante para os norte-americanos, por se focar em Trump. Para quem tiver interesse, ficará a saber como Trump furou o sistema, um sistema que foi alterado nos anos 1970, e como tornou quase impossível a recusa pelo Partido Republicano de o suportar. Além disso, os autores dão conta do modo ele tem seguido todo o caderno autoritário. No final do livro, fica a ideia, totalmente óbvia, que se Trump tivesse continuado para um segundo mandato acabaria a transformar-se num verdadeiro ditador, transformando com ele toda a paisagem política dos EUA.

Nota: 3.5

Publicado no VI:
https://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com...

Jayme Bosio

This book was very enlightening and did a great job of answering the question, "How the **** did we end up here?"

Cindy Lieberman

We’re well on our way to authoritarianism with the election of Donald Trump. As sobering as that is, our situation is not irrevocable, per the author, provided we address the two issues of racial and wealth inequality.

Hannah Myhre

Interesting book, took some time to read because it was factual but I’m happy that I read it

Steve Levitsky

How does a democracy die? What can we do to save our own? What lessons does history teach us? In the 21st century democracy is threatened like never before. Drawing insightful lessons from across history - from Pinochet's murderous Chilean regime to Erdogan's quiet dismantling in Turkey - Levitsky and Ziblatt explain why democracies fail, how leaders like Trump subvert them today and what each of us can do to protect our democratic rights. 'A useful primer on the importance of norms, institutional restraints and civic participation in maintaining a democracy - and how quickly those things can erode when we're not paying attention' President Barack Obama 'A must-read' Andrew Marr, Sunday Times 'Excellent, scholarly, readable, alarming and level-headed' Nick Cohen, Observer 'The greatest of the many merits of Levitsky and Ziblatt's How Democracies Die is their rejection of western exceptionalism. They tell inspiring stories I had not heard before. Excellent' Nick Cohen, Observer 'Provocative, timely. One of my favourite reads this year' Elif Shafak, author of The Bastard of Istanbul 'Anyone who is concerned about the future of democracy should read this brisk, accessible book. Anyone who is not concerned should definitely read it' Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations Fail 'A lucid and essential guide to what can happen' Jennifer Szalai, New York Times 'We owe the authors a debt of thanks for bringing their deep understanding to bear on the central political issue of the day' Francis Fukuyama, author of Political Order and Political Decay 'In this brilliant historical synthesis, Levitsky and Ziblatt show how the actions of elected leaders around the world have paved the road to democratic failure, and why the United States is now vulnerable to this same downward spiral. This book should be widely and urgently read as a clarion call to restore the shared beliefs and practices-beyond our formal constitution - that constitute the essential 'guardrails' for preserving democracy' Larry Diamond, author of The Spirit of Democracy

What History Reveals about Our Future

Ricardo Joaquinito

Tanlyn Roelofs

Maja Cieslik

Monique Baham

Drew Spartz

Rohini Anandamurugan

Aman ankur

Jason Skicewicz

Andreia Santos

Guillaume Breton

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Comprehensive, enlightening, and terrifyingly timely.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) WINNER OF THE GOLDSMITH BOOK PRIZE • SHORTLISTED FOR THE LIONEL GELBER PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Time • Foreign Affairs • WBUR • Paste Donald Trump’s presidency has raised a question that many of us never thought we’d be asking: Is our democracy in danger? Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt have spent more than twenty years studying the breakdown of democracies in Europe and Latin America, and they believe the answer is yes. Democracy no longer ends with a bang—in a revolution or military coup—but with a whimper: the slow, steady weakening of critical institutions, such as the judiciary and the press, and the gradual erosion of long-standing political norms. The good news is that there are several exit ramps on the road to authoritarianism. The bad news is that, by electing Trump, we have already passed the first one. Drawing on decades of research and a wide range of historical and global examples, from 1930s Europe to contemporary Hungary, Turkey, and Venezuela, to the American South during Jim Crow, Levitsky and Ziblatt show how democracies die—and how ours can be saved. Praise for How Democracies Die “What we desperately need is a sober, dispassionate look at the current state of affairs. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, two of the most respected scholars in the field of democracy studies, offer just that.”—The Washington Post “Where Levitsky and Ziblatt make their mark is in weaving together political science and historical analysis of both domestic and international democratic crises; in doing so, they expand the conversation beyond Trump and before him, to other countries and to the deep structure of American democracy and politics.”—Ezra Klein, Vox “If you only read one book for the rest of the year, read How Democracies Die. . . .This is not a book for just Democrats or Republicans. It is a book for all Americans. It is nonpartisan. It is fact based. It is deeply rooted in history. . . . The best commentary on our politics, no contest.”—Michael Morrell, former Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (via Twitter) “A smart and deeply informed book about the ways in which democracy is being undermined in dozens of countries around the world, and in ways that are perfectly legal.”—Fareed Zakaria, CNN

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How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky

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