Democratic backsliders attack not just institutions but the culture of democracy – the public’s beliefs about the quality and value of their democracies. They try to convince the public that (opposing) politicians are corrupt, judges are partisan, bureaucrats are hacks, newspapers purposely lie – in sum, that the public sphere is shabby and not much is lost if they attack it. But this trash-talking of democracy is unevenly successful. Why does it sometimes fail, and what do its failures suggest about effective resistance to democratic backsliding? Susan Stokes will explore these questions with evidence from the US, Turkey, Mexico, and several other countries.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Susan Stokes is the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Director of the Chicago Center on Democracy. She is also a founding member of Bright Line Watch. Her current research projects are on mechanisms of direct democracy, and on democratic erosion.

 

 

Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.