Fascinating, timely

Listening to this after 1/6 — their analysis was apt and timely. But (hopefully) American democratic norms are also proving more resilient than their worst scenarios. A very illuminating read.

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Excellent angle into democracy but more suitable title is: the racial challenge to American bipartisan democracy

American democracy has been in crisis, no doubt. But the authors identified why and discussed it as a process. It is less about how a system itself is uniquely good or bad but how people have worked with it, perfectionised it, or destroyed it. I learned a great deal from this outstanding book. However, cutting through all the detailed analyses, I find the hidden thread though the entire narration is misguidedly placed on democracy, but the fact that neither of these two main political parties really paid attention to the diversified American population- demo- but have focused on doing -cracy- against each other. Simply put, the failing democracy wasn’t its structure being destabilised but the politics do not reflect the changing demographics and their equal needs. Overall, it’s an excellent book but I would like to read more on the core issue: race, racism, ethnic assimilation and politicisation of them as a challenge to bipartisan democracy.

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Largely about Americas struggles with democracy.

A good book , well narrated and does give many examples of how democracies die from around the world. Any person wishing to know more about how democracies work and what is needed for them to flourish should find this book useful.

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Don't take democracy for granted

The truth about democracy is that even in America it can fail. This book offers a very complete historical overview with much attention to interesting and relevant details.

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Failure to take into account US hegemony when discussing Latin American democratic failure.

Very much written from the standpoint of the US model, and its examples of failure of Latin America democracy fails miserably to acknowledge covert US undermining of democratic institutions in the US sphere of influence.
The authoritarian backlash in these countries is as a result of US propaganda and economic warfare directed at governments that want to rid themselves of the US stranglehold of their economy. Suggest you read Noam Chomsky’s Hegemony or Survival for a balanced world view. The US definition of a dictator is any president that doesn’t let US CEO’s run their country.

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9 people found this helpful

Essential reading on this day and age.

Great study of the american state of democracy while offering enough studies of other countries outside the western hemisphere.

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thought provoking

a very informative book with a lot of good examples.
I hope that many people will read and reflect on it.

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How American Democracy Dies

The authors have a masterful understanding of international politics, and specifically, democracies that have slid into authoritarianism. Wide ranging examples are used from across the world to contextualise all the points that are made. Yet the book is concise and doesn't get bogged down in the details, as others might. The only slight criticism, which isn't really a criticism, is that the book is very American focused, so be aware of that going in. A fascinating read in light of the results and reaction to the 2020 US election. Chapter 10 was the best, describing how best to move forward positively to protect democracy.

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interesting look

interested not to us politics and democracy as a whole but I think towards the end of the book The analysation of Donald Trump is flawed especially with hindsight

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Good book, but too American centric for me

This was a good book, however, I went into it not knowing how much of the book would be spent discussing the topic in relation to American politics and American political history, both of which I have no interest in whatsoever.

I enjoyed the wider talks around the various regimes around the world in Europe and elsewhere, and would have preferred more in-depth analysis on this instead for which unfortunately it was short.

Nonetheless, a good book for someone new to the topic looking to understand the factors that culminate in the birth of authoritarian regimes and how countries can be safeguarded against them for later wider reading on a more focused topic of your desired preference.

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2 people found this helpful