Sheri Berman Says the Democratic Recession Was Not a Surprise

If democracy wants to regain the upper hand, it has to not only do a better job than the other guys, but in fact, a good job.

Sheri Berman

This episode features a conversation with political scientist Sheri Berman on why today’s global "democratic recession" was actually predictable. Drawing from her deep historical research, Berman argues that every democratic wave eventually faces an "undertow," especially when the social and economic foundations of stability begin to fail. From the cautionary lessons of Weimar Germany to the modern rise of partisan "bubbles," this episode explores what we have forgotten about democratic stability and what it will take to secure its future.

 The Democracy Paradox is made in partnership with the Kellogg Institute of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. 

Read the full transcript here.

Key Highlights

• Introduction - 0:20
• What We Forgot About Democracy - 3:39
• The Social Foundations of Democracy - 13:55
• Inequality, Insecurity, and Policy - 28:16
• Universities, Cruise Control, and the Purpose of Democracy - 40:55

Links

Learn more about Sheri Berman.

Read her article "Democracy's Troubles Should Be No Surprise" in the Journal of Democracy.

Learn more about the Kellogg Institute.

Register for the 2026 Global Democracy Conference at the University of Notre Dame.

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Email comments or questions to jkempf@democracyparadox.com

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