Gridlock Break

Larry Diamond Examines the Threats Around the World to Democracy

Episode Summary

Larry Diamond is a professor of Sociology and Political Science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He also supervises the democracy program at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford. Today, he will discuss the global assault that has continued for several years on liberal democracies everywhere.

Episode Notes

Larry Diamond is a professor of Sociology and Political Science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He also supervises the democracy program at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford. Today, he will discuss the global assault that has continued for several years on liberal democracies everywhere. 

Larry Diamond warns against the dangers of political parties delegitimizing their opponents. He explains that these are warning signs in the fraying of Americans’ shared commitment to liberal democracy. He goes on to explain that there is also a danger, as displayed by President Trump, of using every ounce of legally available power while ignoring the customs of political compromise. According to Diamond, democratic stability relies on a “system of mutual security,” with each side recognizing that they need to exercise forbearance, meaning just because they can do something, it does not mean they should.

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