Tyranny of the Minority

America is undergoing a massive experiment: It is moving, in fits and starts, toward a multiracial democracy. But the prospect of change has sparked an authoritarian backlash that threatens the very foundations of our political system. In this “exceptionally perceptive and wide ranging” ( Times Literary Supplement) book, Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt help us make sense of these volatile times. They draw on a wealth of examples—from 1930s France to present-day Thailand—to explain why and how political parties turn against democracy. They then show how our Constitution makes us uniquely vulnerable to attacks from within: It is a pernicious enabler of minority rule, allowing partisan minorities to consistently thwart and even rule over popular majorities. Levitsky and Ziblatt issue an urgent call to reform our politics. It’s a daunting task, but we are now at a crossroads: America will either become a multiracial democracy or cease to be a democracy at all.