Democracies can die as a result of a violent coup, but sometimes they die after an authoritarian leader comes to power and gradually takes control of the potential sources of opposition: the legislature, courts, and the media. This transformation has occurred in countries such as Hungary and Poland. Could it be happening here, in America? Two of the foremost academics studying this issue, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, both professors at Harvard, believe that it could be. Among the topics they discuss in their two books are:

• The role of political parties as gatekeepers
• The unwritten rules of American politics
• The nature of authoritarianism and authoritarian leaders
• America as an outlier among successful democracies
• The reforms needed to make American democracy more democratic and more effective

In this course we will read and discuss Levitsky and Ziblatt’s two books along with relevant op ed and other articles that may be published during the course. We will distribute thought questions based on the assigned readings before each class. In class we will discuss these questions along with participants’ reactions to the assigned readings.  

Our course deals with politics, the current president, and both political parties – potentially controversial topics. The authors of the books we will read are prominent academics who present their point of view. Not everyone who enrolls in the course may share these views, Participants will have opportunities to share their views in a respectful discussion.

There will be about 50 pages of reading per week.