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Artwork for Democracy Paradox

Democracy Paradox

Justin Kempf
Democracy
Populism
Democratic Backsliding
Ungoverning
Political Polarization
Administrative State
Political Backsliding
Governance
Economic Inequality
Venezuela
Bureaucracy
Expertise
Mexico
China
Counterrevolution
Regulation
State Capacity
Personalism
Polarization
Elections

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes261Founded6 years ago
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NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Artwork for Democracy Paradox

Latest Episodes

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

We think the next ten years are going to be anti-billionaire.

Pepper Culpepper

Pepper Culpepper joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss when populism can strengthen democracy. Drawing on his Journal of Democracy article “When Populism Can Be Good” a... more

We think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was strengthen left-wing authoritarianism.

Dan Slater

Dan Slater is the James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center of Emerging ... more

What happens when the violent state forged under autocracy survives into democracy?

Guillermo Trejo

In this episode of The Democracy Paradox, Kellogg faculty fellow Guillermo Trejo discusses his new book, Accountability Shock, coauthored with Lucía... more

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Recent Guests

Pepper Culpepper
Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Blavotnik Chair in Government and Public Policy, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: Pepper Culpepper Says Good Populism Can Save Democracy
Dan Slater
James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center of Emerging Democracies at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter
Guillermo Trejo
Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame; Director of the Violence and Transitional Justice Lab
University of Notre Dame, Kellogg Institute
Episode: Guillermo Trejo on Accountability, Impunity, and the Fate of New Democracies
Ken Roberts
Co-author of Polarization and Democracy in Latin America, Legacies of the Left Turn
Academia (Latin American democracy scholar)
Episode: Kenneth Roberts Says the Left Pays a Steep Price for Breaking with Democracy
Sheri Berman
Professor of political science at Barnard College, Columbia University
Barnard College, Columbia University
Episode: Sheri Berman Says the Democratic Recession Was Not a Surprise
Christopher Walker
Vice President for the Center for European Policy Analysis; author on sharp power
Center for European Policy Analysis
Episode: Christopher Walker Revisits Sharp Power
Hugo Drochon
Associate professor in political theory at the University of Nottingham; author of Elites and Democracy
University of Nottingham
Episode: Hugo Drochon Says Elites Are Inevitable
Milan Svolik
Professor of Political Science at Yale University
Yale University
Episode: Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?
Minxin Pei
Editor of the China Leadership Monitor; author of The Broken China Dream and The Chinese Dream, How Reform Revived Totalitarianism
Claremont McKenna College (Professor); China Leadership Monitor (editor)
Episode: Minxin Pei Warns China Has Descended into Totalitarianism

Host

Justin Kempf
Host of Democracy Paradox

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 227 ratings
  • Amazing academic podcast

    This is one of my favorite podcasts, never missed a single episode. Thank you, Justin!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Naj Noorzai
    United States7 months ago
  • Mixed at best

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Abq Michael
    United States3 years ago
  • 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.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Tim Daw
    3 years ago
  • 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.

    Podcast Addict
    presting
    3 years ago
  • Insightful every time

    Insightful conversations every week. A great resource for political scientists.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    daniela fran
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Host asks precise questions and guides guests to connect their work to broader democratic challenges.
Insightful and well-researched discussions that elevate understanding of democracy.
Guests are experts who bring depth and nuance to complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#151
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#49
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#139
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#175
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#232
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Guillermo Trejo on Accountability, Impunity, and the Fate of New Democracies
Q: Is transitional justice necessary for a successful and complete democratization?
Yes, because it reduces future vulnerability to militarization, lowers incentives for human rights abuses by security forces, and sustains democratic consolidation through accountable institutions and a culture of rights.
Hugo Drochon Says Elites Are Inevitable
Q: Do you think of there being different types of elites, and how do they contest power within and across groups?
There are different types of elites (economic, political, academic, etc.), and they can contest power not just across groups but within factions of the same party or system. Outsiders can join with elements of the established elite to challenge the status quo, and this dynamic is essential for revitalizing democracy rather than simply replacing one set of elites with another.
Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?
Q: How do polarization and partisan loyalties influence willingness to tolerate undemocratic actions by favored politicians?
Higher polarization makes it easier for voters to justify anti-democratic moves by their own side, but the research also shows that polarization is a systemic risk: as parties and voters move further apart, the price of defending democracy rises, potentially making undemocratic options more tolerable for partisan reasons.
Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?
Q: Tell me about the core idea of testing revealed support for democracy through a scenario where voters choose between policies and democracy.
The core idea is to separate abstract support for democracy from actions in a concrete context, showing that voters may repudiate undemocratic behavior when it conflicts with policy preferences, and that their true commitment to democracy is revealed by how they trade off democracy against other priorities.
Minxin Pei Warns China Has Descended into Totalitarianism
Q: What does studying China teach us about democracy itself?
That democracy thrives on competitive politics and the ability to remove bad leaders, but that economic modernization alone does not guarantee liberalization; history shows democracy requires structural supports and vigilant institutions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy Paradox

What is Democracy Paradox about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous, scholarly-focused show that brings together political scientists, historians, and policy experts to explore democracy from multiple angles. Episodes consistently cover democratic backsliding, polarization, populism, state capacity, and the design of institutions, often through case studies and theoretical frameworks. Notable strengths include a steady stream of acclaimed scholars, nuanced debates, and a tendency to connect abstract concepts to current democratic challenges. Potential listeners include researchers, policy professionals, and students who want deep, evidence-based discussions that balance theory with real-world implications.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Democracy Paradox. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Democracy Paradox and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Democracy Paradox get?

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What are the audience demographics for Democracy Paradox?

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How many subscribers and views does Democracy Paradox have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Democracy Paradox?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy Paradox:

1. Capitalisn't
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Ones and Tooze
4. The Good Fight
5. The Gray Area with Sean Illing

How many episodes of Democracy Paradox are there?

Democracy Paradox launched 6 years ago and published 261 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Democracy Paradox?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Democracy Paradox?

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What guests have appeared on Democracy Paradox?

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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