Reviews

Tyranny of the Minority by Daniel Ziblatt, Steven Levitsky

thewonderelf's review

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challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

A great, easily understable look at why majorities have such difficulty getting things done in the US. Also does a good job at comparing American democracy to other countries and offers a potential path toward democratic reform. 

jen_forbus's review

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5.0

A well-researched and accessibly presented evaluation of the current state of American democracy and how it compares to other countries around the world. The authors clearly lay out the issues, show how other countries (both past and present) have responded and their results, and they conclude with suggestions for how America can go forward. Their in depth explanation of how elements of the American democracy came to be highlight the problems that even the framers recognized. This book jumped to the top of my recommendation list.

*Note: I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

efeek's review

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challenging hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

megqharris's review

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challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

4.25

llorenteguy6491's review

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informative medium-paced

4.0

emily_reeves's review

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5.0

This is an excellent follow-up to Levitsky and Ziblatt's How Democracies Die, which was written post-2016 election. Tyranny of the Minority was written post-Trump presidency and the authors do an excellent job picking up where they left off. I like to consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to political science and the American government, but this deep dive on America's decline in democracy taught me so much. Everything is explained succinctly, and in a way that would be easily understood by anyone.

escapedillinois's review

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dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

rokkugoh's review

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A good read for anyone who fears for democracy in the United States, especially if you've lived in the USA through the last decade of ridiculous politics.  The authors posit that the Republican Party use outdated political institutions (the Electoral College, for example) as well as other methods (senate filibuster, gerrymandering) to obstruct and even overrule majorities.  This "tyranny of the minority" has protected the Republican Party and allowed it to move even further to the right.  The authors have pointed criticism for politicians that are "semi-loyal" to democracy: "They do not oppose democracy out of deep-seated principle but are merely indifferent to it. They tolerate or condone antidemocratic extremism because it is the path of least resistance. These politicians often tell themselves they are doing what’s necessary to get ahead. But, ultimately, they become indispensable partners in democracy’s demise."

mikebarbre's review

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

tatooinesunrise's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5