# Democracy Paradox A podcast by Justin Kempf. 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. Feed: https://rss.buzzsprout.com/1174532.rss ## Latest episodes - [Michael McFaul Says Powerful Autocracies as a Lasting Threat](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/2bc99b9165a2) (2026-10-14, 47 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19942167-michael-mcfaul-says-powerful-autocracies-as-a-lasting-threat.mp3 - [Ian Shapiro Says the Left's "Preemptive Capitulation" to Neoliberalism Paved the Way for Populism](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/14905fce436b) (2026-09-30, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19872412-ian-shapiro-says-the-left-s-preemptive-capitulation-to-neoliberalism-paved-the-way-for-populism.mp3 - [Noam Lupu Says Support for Democracy Is Growing in the Americas, But Not Necessarily Liberal Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/886ecf3444a0) (2026-09-16, 46 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19798877-noam-lupu-says-support-for-democracy-is-growing-in-the-americas-but-not-necessarily-liberal-democracy.mp3 - [Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis Fear Autocracies Are Hijacking the International Order](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/c4fde2d38e6d) (2026-09-02, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19735743-alexander-cooley-and-alexander-dukalskis-fear-autocracies-are-hijacking-the-international-order.mp3 - [Suzanne Mettler Says the Rural-Urban Divide Threatens American Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/0f365cbc60d7) (2026-08-19, 49 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19667770-suzanne-mettler-says-the-rural-urban-divide-threatens-american-democracy.mp3 - [Rachel Beatty Riedl Says Economic Inequality Is Fueling Democratic Backsliding](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/ca41072dd84e) (2026-08-05, 48 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19600824-rachel-beatty-riedl-says-economic-inequality-is-fueling-democratic-backsliding.mp3 - [Kim Lane Scheppele on Hungary's Narrow Path Back to Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/78076cbdc934) (2026-07-22, 53 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19523037-kim-lane-scheppele-on-hungary-s-narrow-path-back-to-democracy.mp3 - [Jeffrey Kopstein Explains Why Polarization Turns Violent](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/1632c0c3c85d) (2026-07-08, 46 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19461325-jeffrey-kopstein-explains-why-polarization-turns-violent.mp3 - [Pepper Culpepper Says Good Populism Can Save Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/cdb303e6191a) (2026-06-24, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19389512-pepper-culpepper-says-good-populism-can-save-democracy.mp3 - [Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/4d4559b41889) (2026-06-10, 48 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19323493-dan-slater-says-authoritarian-ideologies-still-matter.mp3 - [Guillermo Trejo on Accountability, Impunity, and the Fate of New Democracies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/70523c0b4892) (2026-05-27, 58 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19245198-guillermo-trejo-on-accountability-impunity-and-the-fate-of-new-democracies.mp3 - [Kenneth Roberts Says the Left Pays a Steep Price for Breaking with Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/a14e0b302bc2) (2026-05-13, 47 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19167693-kenneth-roberts-says-the-left-pays-a-steep-price-for-breaking-with-democracy.mp3 - [Sheri Berman Says the Democratic Recession Was Not a Surprise](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/dc5cf2e5d199) (2026-04-29, 51 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19094161-sheri-berman-says-the-democratic-recession-was-not-a-surprise.mp3 - [Christopher Walker Revisits Sharp Power](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/5a2d96e77aec) (2026-04-15, 46 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/19018000-christopher-walker-revisits-sharp-power.mp3 - [Hugo Drochon Says Elites Are Inevitable](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/769bcd4d23d0) (2026-04-01, 48 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18942132-hugo-drochon-says-elites-are-inevitable.mp3 - [Milan Svolik Asks: Do Voters Really Support Democracy?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/bee34cbb80c4) (2026-03-18, 62 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18865843-milan-svolik-asks-do-voters-really-support-democracy.mp3 - [Minxin Pei Warns China Has Descended into Totalitarianism](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/43df1dfba394) (2026-03-04, 54 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18785379-minxin-pei-warns-china-has-descended-into-totalitarianism.mp3 - [Erica Frantz says Personalist Parties are Democracy's Latest Threat](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/7287508ccd26) (2026-02-18, 52 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18703229-erica-frantz-says-personalist-parties-are-democracy-s-latest-threat.mp3 - [Javier Pérez Sandoval Reveals Democracy’s Hidden Vulnerability: The Hollowing of the State](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/d39fe304c2d6) (2026-02-04, 44 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18621771-javier-perez-sandoval-reveals-democracy-s-hidden-vulnerability-the-hollowing-of-the-state.mp3 - [Kate Baldwin Explains Why Christianity Fights for Democracy in Africa](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/b061673ac6ae) (2026-01-21, 38 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18544769-kate-baldwin-explains-why-christianity-fights-for-democracy-in-africa.mp3 - [Natalie Wenzell Letsa Describes the Autocratic Voter](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/96adb6faa38c) (2026-01-07, 51 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18465520-natalie-wenzell-letsa-describes-the-autocratic-voter.mp3 - [Russell Muirhead Warns Ungoverning Threatens Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/11041093b5e7) (2025-12-24, 51 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18409780-russell-muirhead-warns-ungoverning-threatens-democracy.mp3 - [Luis Schiumerini on Incumbency Bias](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/65b829ec0807) (2025-12-10, 45 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18328396-luis-schiumerini-on-incumbency-bias.mp3 - [Adam Przeworski Asks Who Decides What is Democratic](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/138ace7155f5) (2025-11-26, 51 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18249108-adam-przeworski-asks-who-decides-what-is-democratic.mp3 - [Killian Clarke Warns Counterrevolution is a Threat to Nascent Democracies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/63f238a93424) (2025-11-12, 52 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18175525-killian-clarke-warns-counterrevolution-is-a-threat-to-nascent-democracies.mp3 - [Amel Ahmed Says the Regime Question Has Returned](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/cfb6251a076e) (2025-10-29, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18093009-amel-ahmed-says-the-regime-question-has-returned.mp3 - [Tom Carothers Says We Misunderstand Democratic Backsliding](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/75939f78bfdc) (2025-10-15, 53 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/18013632-tom-carothers-says-we-misunderstand-democratic-backsliding.mp3 - [Javier Corrales on Intentional Polarization](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/2778fecec01d) (2025-10-01, 51 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/17936246-javier-corrales-on-intentional-polarization.mp3 - [Susan Stokes on Democratic Backsliders](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/1fed259d711a) (2025-09-17, 41 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/17857587-susan-stokes-on-democratic-backsliders.mp3 - [The Last Episode. Elizabeth Saunders on How Democracies Wage War and Make Peace](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/b499745235ea) (2024-06-11, 53 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/15227922-the-last-episode-elizabeth-saunders-on-how-democracies-wage-war-and-make-peace.mp3 - [When Democracy Breaks: Final Thoughts with Archon Fung, David Moss and Arne Westad](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/57419b4ec0f4) (2024-06-04, 54 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/15189859-when-democracy-breaks-final-thoughts-with-archon-fung-david-moss-and-arne-westad.mp3 - [When Democracy Breaks: Scott Mainwaring on Argentina](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/34206caa93d6) (2024-05-28, 53 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/15145865-when-democracy-breaks-scott-mainwaring-on-argentina.mp3 - [When Democracy Breaks: 1930s Japan with Louise Young](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/7d60640aaa9a) (2024-05-21, 46 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/15106992-when-democracy-breaks-1930s-japan-with-louise-young.mp3 - [When Democracy Breaks: Ancient Athens with Josiah Ober and Federica Carugati](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/dbd38294e7af) (2024-05-14, 52 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/15063600-when-democracy-breaks-ancient-athens-with-josiah-ober-and-federica-carugati.mp3 - [Alexander Keyssar on Why We Still Have the Electoral College](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/d2b40223ee47) (2024-05-07, 51 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/15021551-alexander-keyssar-on-why-we-still-have-the-electoral-college.mp3 - [Robert Kagan on the Threat of Antiliberalism](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/68037e53bf5b) (2024-04-30, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14981934-robert-kagan-on-the-threat-of-antiliberalism.mp3 - [Rep Mikie Sherrill on Whether the Bipartisan Consensus on Foreign Policy Will Hold and on Threats to American Democracy](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/62b8b9440ec2) (2024-04-23, 33 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14939469-rep-mikie-sherrill-on-whether-the-bipartisan-consensus-on-foreign-policy-will-hold-and-on-threats-to-american-democracy.mp3 - [Saskia Brechenmacher on Promoting Gender Equality Through Democracy Assistance Aid](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/f949729e9d6a) (2024-04-16, 57 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14898068-saskia-brechenmacher-on-promoting-gender-equality-through-democracy-assistance-aid.mp3 - [Democracy in a Postmodern Era with Bruce Ackerman](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/e12ee7834169) (2024-04-09, 48 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14855277-democracy-in-a-postmodern-era-with-bruce-ackerman.mp3 - [Adam Casey on How Military Aid Can Stabilize and Destabilize Foreign Autocrats](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/a4e2e7a3b5b0) (2024-04-02, 52 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14793867-adam-casey-on-how-military-aid-can-stabilize-and-destabilize-foreign-autocrats.mp3 - [Disinformation is a Threat to Democracy Says Barbara McQuade](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/0278f6ce5354) (2024-03-26, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14769388-disinformation-is-a-threat-to-democracy-says-barbara-mcquade.mp3 - [Grading Biden's Foreign Policy with Alexander Ward](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/31e4fafadd0f) (2024-03-19, 53 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14718633-grading-biden-s-foreign-policy-with-alexander-ward.mp3 - [Peter Pomerantsev on Winning an Information War](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/030e8d017a50) (2024-03-12, 49 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14674917-peter-pomerantsev-on-winning-an-information-war.mp3 - [Is Democracy Still in Decline? Yana Gorokhovskaia on the Freedom in the World Report](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/cfe7f6b8e843) (2024-03-05, 46 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14630781-is-democracy-still-in-decline-yana-gorokhovskaia-on-the-freedom-in-the-world-report.mp3 - [When We Misread Dictators... Steve Coll on Saddam Hussein and the American Invasion of Iraq](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/ca48d4c00406) (2024-02-27, 58 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14584714-when-we-misread-dictators-steve-coll-on-saddam-hussein-and-the-american-invasion-of-iraq.mp3 - [Why is the Immigration System Broken? Jonathan Blitzer on How American Foreign Policy in Central America Created a Crisis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/a99114a0182c) (2024-02-20, 55 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14537194-why-is-the-immigration-system-broken-jonathan-blitzer-on-how-american-foreign-policy-in-central-america-created-a-crisis.mp3 - [The Surveillance State in China Began With Mao Says Minxin Pei](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/e5adea0ddb67) (2024-02-13, 44 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14493761-the-surveillance-state-in-china-began-with-mao-says-minxin-pei.mp3 - [After a Coup, Can the Constitutional Order Be Repaired? Adem Abebe on Rebuilding Constitutions in West Africa](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/2d18f7ea3184) (2024-02-06, 55 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14448799-after-a-coup-can-the-constitutional-order-be-repaired-adem-abebe-on-rebuilding-constitutions-in-west-africa.mp3 - [Can Poland Repair its Constitutional Democracy? Tomás Daly Believes it Can](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/23805383f2fa) (2024-01-30, 52 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14404475-can-poland-repair-its-constitutional-democracy-tomas-daly-believes-it-can.mp3 - [Simon Shuster on Zelensky in War and Peace](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1519689024/bb8b7f78bffc) (2024-01-23, 50 min): audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/1174532/episodes/14360202-simon-shuster-on-zelensky-in-war-and-peace.mp3 Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.