Assessing the Prospects for Democratic Backsliding in the United States

The rapid and shocking erosion of the institutional guardrails protecting American democracy has left scholars of American politics scrambling for answers. Understandably, they have turned to the rich comparative literature on democratic breakdown for insights. Yet that literature broadly suggests that the nation's wealth and long-standing institutions should provide strong protections against backsliding. Understanding the unfolding political crisis requires a synthesis of insights from comparative politics with an appreciation for the peculiarities of the American context, especially its distinctive political institutions, racial cleavages,  and political economy. 

Paul Pierson is the John Gross Distinguished Professor of Political Science at  Berkeley, where he also directs the newly established Berkeley Economy and Society Initiative (BESI).

Please note that this event takes place in English only with no translation.

The event is part of the WZB Talks series.