American Academy Lecture in Freiburg

The State of American Democracy: The Origins of the Current Crisis

There is little question America currently finds itself facing a festering democratic crisis. But this crisis runs deeper than Donald Trump. Its historical roots run back to the middle of the twentieth century. In this presentation, Daniel Ziblatt first identifies the core indicators of America’s current democratic malaise: the attack on rules, norms, and the growing dysfunction of its famous system of checks and balances. He then locates the roots of the crisis in the radicalization of the Republican Party as illiberalism was grafted onto a traditional center-right political party beginning in the 1950s, in reaction to the early stirrings of America’s twentieth century democratization. Like in other cases of democratic transition around the world, the counter-reaction to the democratization of the US South, if not contained, might subvert the stability of democracy itself.

An event in cooperation with Carl-Schurz-Haus Freiburg/Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut e.V.

Please note that this event will take place at the University of Freiburg and is open to the public. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prior registration is not required.