How Democracies Die

Chicago Humanities May 22, 2018
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Chicago Humanities connects people to the ideas that shape and define us, and promotes the lifelong exploration of what it means to be human. The organization fosters curiosity, celebrates creativity, explores the boundaries of contemporary knowledge and culture, and challenges us to see ourselves and the world anew.

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Is our democracy in danger? Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, argues that America is not immune from the authoritarian slide that has caused democracies in Europe and Latin America to collapse. Democracy no longer ends with a bang—in a revolution or military coup—but with a whimper: the slow, steady weakening of critical institutions, such as the judiciary and the press, and the gradual erosion of long-standing political norms. Drawing on decades of research and a wide range of historical and global examples, from 1930s Europe and contemporary Venezuela to the American South during Jim Crow, Levitsky reveals the dangers facing our democracy—and how it can survive. This program recognizes the generous support of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation to the Chicago Humanities Festival. See upcoming CHF events: https://chicagohumanities.org Support CHF with a donation: supportchf.org Follow CHF on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Chi_Humanities Like CHF on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chicagohumanities Help us caption & translate this video! https://amara.org/v/ioNV/