Tyranny of the Minority

• In Event: Political Parties and American Democracy Mini-Conference III: Constitutions, Counter-Majoritarianism, and American Democracy

Abstract

America is undergoing a massive experiment: it is moving toward a multi-racial democracy. But the prospect of change has sparked an authoritarian backlash that threatens the very foundations of our political systems: this paper draws on our book, Tyranny of the Minority, to explain why democracy is under assault in the United States but not in other wealthy, diversifying nations, and what we can do to save it. In particular, we explore how the US Constitution enables minority rule, and the reforms that may help to restore majority popular government.

Authors

• Steven Levitsky, Harvard University

• Daniel F. Ziblatt, Harvard University