Democracy Paradox podcast

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.

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.

 

#232

Pepper Culpepper Says Good Populism Can Save Democracy

We think the next ten years are going to be anti-billionaire. Pepper Culpepper Pepper Culp... more

24 Jun 2026

49 MINS

49:05

24 Jun 2026


#231

Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter

We think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was st... more

10 Jun 2026

47 MINS

47:09

10 Jun 2026


#230

Guillermo Trejo on Accountability, Impunity, and the Fate of New Democracies

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

27 May 2026

57 MINS

57:57

27 May 2026


#229

Kenneth Roberts Says the Left Pays a Steep Price for Breaking with Democracy

The left pays a very steep price when they break with democratic norms and procedures. Ken... more

13 May 2026

46 MINS

46:36

13 May 2026


#228

Sheri Berman Says the Democratic Recession Was Not a Surprise

If democracy wants to regain the upper hand, it has to not only do a better job than the o... more

29 Apr 2026

50 MINS

50:51

29 Apr 2026


#227

Christopher Walker Revisits Sharp Power

Sharp power seeks to exploit the openness of free societies because their institutions are... more

15 Apr 2026

45 MINS

45:09

15 Apr 2026


#226

Hugo Drochon Says Elites Are Inevitable

I don't think populism is necessarily a challenge to democracy. I think it's part and parc... more

01 Apr 2026

47 MINS

47:59

01 Apr 2026


#225

Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?

We are badly mismeasuring whether and how much people care about democracy. Milan Svolik I... more

18 Mar 2026

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:06

18 Mar 2026


#224

Minxin Pei Warns China Has Descended into Totalitarianism

The paradox of dictatorship is that dictatorships do well when they do not have a genuine ... more

04 Mar 2026

53 MINS

53:41

04 Mar 2026


#223

Erica Frantz says Personalist Parties are Democracy's Latest Threat

 Traditional programmatic parties serve as a critical guardrail for democracy.  Erica Fran... more

18 Feb 2026

51 MINS

51:51

18 Feb 2026


#222

Javier Pérez Sandoval Reveals Democracy’s Hidden Vulnerability: The Hollowing of the State

By dismantling certain capacities today, you're making the democratic choices of tomorrow ... more

04 Feb 2026

43 MINS

43:24

04 Feb 2026


#221

Kate Baldwin Explains Why Christianity Fights for Democracy in Africa

The group of people who have an interest in defending liberal democracy might be broader t... more

21 Jan 2026

37 MINS

37:33

21 Jan 2026