
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 ang... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 265 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | GovernmentNewsPolitics | |||

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 Threats with Robert Lieberman a... more
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 inequality and the growing power of ... more
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 Scheppele is the Laurance S.... more
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 on his Journal of Democracy ... more
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This is one of my favorite podcasts, never missed a single episode. Thank you, Justin!
I find these podcasts to be perpetually confusing. Of the three I’ve listened to, I abandoned 2 in disgust and held one to the end.
I think my issue is that the host has a perspective on some key words or ideas that are far afield of how Americans like me take them.
A big one is in how he and some of his guests use the words liberal, liberty and conservative. To him, the root meaning is all about 18th century philosophy (which is how the British use it) while to me it’s about 21st century li... more
High level interviews from a range of political theorists and democracy experts. Inevitably a US perspective but covers writings, authors and case studies from around the world. A fantastic way to get an overview of big thinkers on democracy.
For anyone interested in democracy, especially democratic theory, this is an excellent podcast. Mostly interviews with academic authors, but always with people who speak the language and have lived in the countries they study. Historical perspective as well as current events.
Insightful conversations every week. A great resource for political scientists.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #189 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #79 | |
Apple Podcasts | #141 | |
Apple Podcasts | #243 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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The show centers on deep-dive conversations with leading scholars and thinkers about democracy, governance, and political behavior. Episodes often explore how democratic systems interact with autocratic tendencies, the future of liberal institutions, and the role of media, institutions, and elites in shaping democratic health. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on rigorous academic perspectives, cross-disciplinary insights, and case-study comparisons across regions, making complex political ideas accessible to a broad audience. The program frequently features guests who are professors or researchers, offering theoretical frameworks and empirical findings, while maintaining a clear focus on practical implications for policy, civil society... more
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Democracy Paradox launched 6 years ago and published 265 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Democracy Paradox include:
1. Pepper Culpepper
2. Dan Slater
3. Guillermo Trejo
4. Ken Roberts
5. Sheri Berman
6. Christopher Walker
7. Hugo Drochon
8. Milan Svolik
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