The Democratic Dismantling of Democracies

Democratically elected leaders around the world are increasingly transforming into autocrats by systematically undermining the institutions that enabled their rise to power. After achieving dominance of the executive and legislative branches of government, these authoritarians undermine democratic traditions and norms to strengthen their influence and remain in power. This panel will explore the causes, processes, and impact of the democratic dismantling of democracies, as well as suggest ways to preserve democracies as they confront despotic subterfuge.

This event is co-sponsored by the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, the Thai Studies Program, and the Southeast Asia Initiative.

Speakers include:

Pita Limjaroenrat: Chief Advisor to the leader of the Move Forward Party; Senior Research Fellow at the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, Harvard Kennedy School

Freddy Guevara: Co-founder of the Venezuelan progressive party Voluntad Popular in 2010; Democracy Visiting Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School

Daniel Ziblatt: Director, Center for European Studies; Eaton Professor of the Science of Government, Harvard University

Archon Fung (moderator): Director, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation; Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government, Harvard Kennedy School