Democracy Paradox - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Democracy Paradox — Government
Democracy Paradox

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.

Copyright: © 2026 Democracy Paradox

Latest Episodes:

Is a New Jim Crow Emerging in India? Ashutosh Varshney Gives a Warning Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

That's the point here. It's not there yet. But if electorally the BJP keeps winning, this is a prospect that must be faced.

Ashutosh Varshney
Proudly sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Learn more at https://kellogg.nd.edu
Listen ad-free for just a $5/month on Patreon

Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Ashutosh Varshney is the Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences at Brown University. He is the author of many books and papers on India and its politics. His most recent article (coauthored with Connor Staggs), published in Journal of Democracy, is "Hindu Nationalism and the New Jim Crow."

Key Highlights

Introduction - 1:31
Hindu Nationalism - 3:48
Jim Crow and India - 12:08
Vigilantism - 23:53
Solutions - 34:46

Key Links
"Hindu Nationalism and the New Jim Crow" by Ashutosh Varshney and Connor Staggs in Journal of Democracy
"India’s Democracy at 70: Growth, Inequality, and Nationalism" by Ashutosh Varshney in Journal of Democracy
Follow Ashutosh Varshney on X @ProfVarshney
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Ashutosh Varshney on India. Democracy in Hard Places
Is India Still a Democracy? Rahul Verma Emphatically Says Yes
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Does Democracy Rely on a Civic Bargain? Josiah Ober Makes the Case Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

What we really need to do is recommit to the idea that this is difficult, it is valuable, and in order to keep this valuable, difficult thing going, we need to basically pay the cost of educating ourselves, educating the next generation, the background knowledge and skills that citizens need if they are to continue to govern themselves...

Josiah Ober
Support the podcast on Patreon

Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Josiah Ober is a Professor of Classics and Political Science at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is the coauthor, along with Brook Manville, of The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:49
What is Democracy? 3:15
Conditions and Constraints - 20:17
Classical Democracy - 24:26
Future of Democracy - 39:21

Key Links
The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives by Brook Manville and Josiah Ober
Demopolis: Democracy before Liberalism in Theory and Practice by Josiah Ober
Lean more about Josiah Ober
Democracy Paradox Podcast
How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent? Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism
Marc Plattner Has Quite a Bit to Say About Democracy
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Is Islamism Democratic? Sebnem Gumuscu on Islamist Parties in Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

If these Islamist organizations want to stay in these contexts and keep playing the democratic game, they need to commit to the democratic game in the longer run.

Sebnem Gumuscu
Support the podcast on Patreon

Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Sebnem Gumuscu is an associate professor of political science at Middlebury College and the author of Democracy or Authoritarianism: Islamist Governments in Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:31
What is Islamism - 2:48
Liberal and Electoralists - 19:23
Role of Elites - 35:16
Islamism in the Long Run - 37:09

Key Links
Democracy or Authoritarianism: Islamist Governments in Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia by Sebnem Gumuscu
"How Erdoğan’s Populism Won Again '" by Sebnem Gumuscu and Berk Esen
Follow Sebnem Gumuscu on X @sebnemisback
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Berk Esen and Sebnem Gumuscu on the Disappointing Elections in Turkey… or How Democratic (or Autocratic) is Turkey Really?
Shadi Hamid on Democracy, Liberalism, and the Middle East
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Can America Fight Back Against the Authoritarian Economic Statecraft of China? Bethany Allen Believes We Can Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

In the past 26 years, to this day, there has not been one major Hollywood production that has gone against a major Chinese Communist Party red line. Not one. Twenty-six years of silence.

Bethany Allen
Support the podcast on Patreon

Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Bethany Allen is the China reporter at Axios and the author of Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:48
The Authoritarian Economic Statecraft of China - 3:32
Trump Administration and China Policy - 22:24
Another Cold War - 34:26
American Options for Response - 48:16

Key Links
Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World by Bethany Allen
"Zoom closed account of U.S.-based Chinese activist 'to comply with local law'" by Bethany Allen
Follow Bethany Allen on X @BethanyAllenEbr
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Hal Brands Thinks China is a Declining Power… Here’s Why that’s a Problem
Josh Chin on China’s Surveillance State
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Does Democracy Die in Darkness? Katlyn Carter on Transparency and Secrecy in Early Representative Governments Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

If we're thinking about democracy as something broader that is producing equality, justice or these kind of things, often those policies that we might describe as democratic policies can emerge from processes that are undemocratic. I think that's uncomfortable for us to think about.

Katlyn Carter
Support the podcast on Patreon

Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Katlyn Carter is an assistant professor of history at Notre Dame University. She is the author of Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:41
The Birth of Republics - 3:10
Publicity - 19:23
Spectacle - 26:43
Representation - 35:43

Key Links
Democracy in Darkness: Secrecy and Transparency in the Age of Revolutions by Katlyn Carter
Katlyn Carter on My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Learn more about Katlyn Carter
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Heather Cox Richardson on History, Conservatism, and the Awakening of American Democracy
Daniel Ziblatt on American Democracy, the Republican Party, and the Tyranny of the Minority
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

How Can Democracy Survive in an Age of Discontent? Rachel Navarre and Matthew Rhodes-Purdy on Populism and Political Extremism Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

I think populism is rather a specific form of discontent. Discontent is the umbrella term. It's this vague sense that the way things are being done is not working. That democracy is not effective. That it's not serving my interests.

Matthew Rhodes-Purdy
Support the podcast on Patreon

Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Rachel Navarre is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Master of Public Administration Program at Bridgewater State University. Matthew Rhodes-Purdy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. They are the coauthors (along with Stephen Utych) of The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremism, and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:53
What is Discontent - 3:21
Crisis and Discontent - 13:34
Rise of Populism - 25:13
An End to Neoliberalism? - 39:20

Key Links
The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremism, and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies by Matthew Rhodes-Purdy, Rachel Navarre, and Stephen Utych
Learn more about Rachel Navarre here.
Learn more about Matthew Rhodes-Purdy here.
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Daniel Ziblatt on American Democracy, the Republican Party, and the Tyranny of the Minority
Marc Plattner Has Quite a Bit to Say About Democracy
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Rachel Schwartz on How Guatemala Rose Up Against Democratic Backsliding Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

This was an election that was meant to cement authoritarian rule and it became a democratic breakthrough.

Rachel Schwartz
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Rachel Schwartz is an assistant professor of international and area studies at the University of Oklahoma. Recently, she cowrote an article with Anita Isaacs for the Journal of Democracy called, “How Guatemala Defied the Odds." She also authored a book earlier this year called Undermining the State from Within: The Institutional Legacies of Civil War in Central America.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:33
The 2023 Election - 2:46
A Weak State - 17:18
Democratic Backsliding - 30:53
Rejuvenating Democracy - 39:39

Key Links
Undermining the State from Within: The Institutional Legacies of Civil War in Central America by Rachel Schwartz
"How Guatemala Defied the Odds" in Journal of Democracy by Rachel Schwartz
"Guatemala: Resisting Democratic Backsliding in the Least Likely of Places?" by Rachel Schwartz
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Wendy Hunter on Lula, Bolsonaro, January 8th and Democracy in Brazil
Jennifer Piscopo on the Constitutional Chaos in Chile
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Who is Alexey Navalny? David Herszenhorn Paints a Picture Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

It's impossible not to admire somebody who is willing to stand up for their country, for freedom and democracy, for the idea that Russians should be able to chart their own future and have a say in what their government looks like.

David Herszenhorn
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
David Herszenhorn is the Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe editor at The Washington Post and was a correspondent for Politico Europe and The New York Times. He is the author The Dissident: Alexey Navalny: Profile of a Political Prisoner.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:44
Navalny as a Political Figure - 3:13
Navalny and the State - 21:26
Navalny and Russian Repression - 34:41
Politician or Dissident? 42:45

Key Links
The Dissident: Alexey Navalny: Profile of a Political Prisoner by David Herszenhorn
"Alexey Navalny Never Wanted to Be a Dissident" in Politico by David Herszenhorn
"For Putin foe Alexey Navalny, Ukraine has long been a volatile issue" in The Washington Post by David Herszenhorn
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Olga Onuch and Henry Hale Describe the Zelensky Effect
Michael McFaul and Robert Person on Putin, Russia, and the War in Ukraine
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Leadership is Not a Formula Says Moshik Temkin Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Leadership is not a formula. It's not something that happens in a vacuum. It's not just something that you can declare about yourself.

Moshik Temkin
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Moshik Temkin is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership and History at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, and a fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. His most recent book is Warriors, Rebels, and Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiavelli to Malcolm X.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:45
What is Leadership? 3:12
Powerless Leadership - 11:58
Ethics of Leadership - 24:10
Ordinary Leadership - 40:16

Key Links
Warriors, Rebels, and Saints: The Art of Leadership from Machiavelli to Malcolm X by Moshik Temkin
Learn more about Moshik Temkin
Follow Moshik Temkin on X at @moshik_temkin
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Larry Bartels Says Democracy Erodes from the Top
Moisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political Power
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Patricia Evangelista Says The Philippines is an Example of What Happens When Autocrats and Dictators Rise and We Let Them Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

For people like me or just your ordinary Joes who speak of democracy, I thought it meant freedom. I thought it meant a free press. I thought it meant that people would not die on the streets.

Patricia Evangelista
Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.
A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.
Patricia Evangelista is a trauma journalist and former investigative reporter for the Philippine news company Rappler. She has received the Kate Webb Prize for exceptional journalism in dangerous conditions. Recently, she authored the book Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country.
Key Highlights

Introduction - 0:46
The Philippines and Duterte - 2:37
The Drug War - 11:04
Vigilantes and Police - 25:26
Democracy in the Philippines - 34:11

Key Links
Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country by Patricia Evangelista
Read the original "Some People Need Killing" published in Rappler.com
Follow Patricia Evangelista on X at @patevangelista
Democracy Paradox Podcast
Moisés Naím on the New Dynamics of Political Power
Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley on the Political Logic of Criminal Wars in Mexico
More Episodes from the Podcast
More Information
Apes of the State created all Music
Email the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.com
Follow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast
100 Books on Democracy

Support the show

Related Podcasts