In our latest episode of the special series produced in partnership with the Journal of Democracy, we discuss the recent article by Susan Stokes, entitled “Why Elected Leaders Subvert Democracy” (Journal of Democracy, Vol. 37, No.2, April 2026)
Democracy today faces many paradoxes. According to recent reports, democracy has regressed to the level of 1978, and the successes of the third wave of democratization have been eroded. More than two-thirds of the world’s population now lives in autocracies. At the same time, however, democracy seems almost hegemonic as a political idea. Today, even the most brutal dictators claim that they are, in fact, staunch democrats. Perhaps even more paradoxically, politicians who undermine democracy often come to power through free and fair elections. This seems to have replaced the military coup, which was the predominant form of change toward authoritarianism in the 20th century. In a recent article in the Journal of Democracy, Susan Stokes examines several questions that arise from this phenomenon: Why is there an increase in democratic erosion at this point in history? What factors leave some countries more at risk than others? And, perhaps most importantly, what can be done to counter these developments?
Susan Stokes is Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Center on Democracy. Prof. Stokes’ new book, The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies, was published by Princeton University Press at the end of 2025.
The interview was conducted by Konstantin Kipp. Lilit Hakobyan edited the audio file.
