Background
Published on September 12, 2023, Tyranny of the Minority, is a book by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt that delves into the current political landscape in the United States, examining how the country is transitioning towards a multiracial democracy while facing an authoritarian backlash that jeopardizes its democratic foundations. The authors explore why democracy is under siege in the U.S. and not in other similar nations, offering insights into the unique vulnerabilities of the American constitutional framework to minority rule and the potential solutions to safeguard democracy. They draw comparisons with various global instances to illustrate how political parties can turn against democratic principles and how outdated institutions in the U.S. contribute to enabling minority rule, contrasting this with reforms in other democracies aimed at eliminating such outdated systems.
My Thoughts
The book had some interesting points and made clear that we are in trouble in terms of our politics. I agree with that assessment. My personal thoughts is we, as Americans, have allowed the system to devolve into partisan bickering. While that has always existed, the parties were able to work together from time to time. Now it is seen as a sign of strength to not discuss anything with the other party. It is a new level of ridiculous.
Recommendation
It didn’t make a lasting impression.