Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 5hOpposition parties cannot defeat backsliding incumbents alone, but big united fronts often fail, too. The important choice lies between unity coalitions and quiet ones—and knowing which to choose can make all the difference. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 6hAutocrats look invincible until their allies start to walk away. Defections have brought down regimes from Guatemala to Hungary, and they can be engineered: Raise the costs of standing with the autocrat and ease the path out. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 7hAI gives autocrats unprecedented powers of surveillance, but seeing is not enforcing. Authoritarians still rely on coercion, and a regime’s henchmen can shirk, defect, or disobey. The costs for autocrats will rise in unexpected ways. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Inequality fuels democratic decay almost everywhere, yet South Korea and Taiwan keep thriving. Their secret is the welfare state: Universal healthcare, pensions, and social protection have given citizens concrete reasons to trust democracy. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 064
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Bureaucrats who slow-walk, leak, and refuse to cooperate have long been democracy’s quiet sentinels. But autocrats armed with AI surveillance will root them out—unless democracies build new legal shields around the administrative state. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026AI gives autocrats unprecedented powers of surveillance, but seeing is not enforcing. Authoritarians still rely on coercion, and a regime’s henchmen can shirk, defect, or disobey. The costs for autocrats will rise in unexpected ways. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 021
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026"The stakes of Israel’s October vote are high. The country stands at a critical juncture, in which a government victory would deepen Israel’s descent into competitive authoritarianism — but in which an opposition victory is possible and could yet contain it."journalofdemocracy.orgIsrael’s Slide into Competitive Authoritarianism | Journal of DemocracyUnder Netanyahu, Israel has become a competitive authoritarian regime. The country’s upcoming elections are its best chance to halt Israel’s democratic backsliding before it’s too late. 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026🇮🇱 Under Netanyahu, Israel has become a competitive authoritarian regime. The country’s upcoming elections are its best chance to halt Israel’s democratic backsliding before it’s too late. From "Israel’s Slide into Competitive Authoritarianism":journalofdemocracy.orgIsrael’s Slide into Competitive Authoritarianism | Journal of DemocracyUnder Netanyahu, Israel has become a competitive authoritarian regime. The country’s upcoming elections are its best chance to halt Israel’s democratic backsliding before it’s too late. 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026🇺🇸 The United States has slid into competitive authoritarianism. The slide has been modest and remains reversible—but it is real. Even after Donald Trump, American democracy will remain fragile. Read "Competitive Authoritarianism In America": muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 121
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026🌏 For the first time in a century, every great power is autocratic or heading that way. In a post-unipolar world, strongmen shop for patrons and make deals while democrats increasingly are on the defensive. Learn more in "The Age of Authoritarian Abundance": muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 123
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026🚨🆕 Israel has slid into competitive authoritarianism under Netanyahu, write Oded Haklai and Andrew O’Donohue. But there is still time to reverse course. Read 👇journalofdemocracy.orgIsrael’s Slide into Competitive Authoritarianism | Journal of DemocracyUnder Netanyahu, Israel has become a competitive authoritarian regime. The country’s upcoming elections are its best chance to halt Israel’s democratic backsliding before it’s too late. 001
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Social media inspired revolutions that autocrats quickly smothered. Digital payments are different: Rulers cannot switch them off without ruining their own economies. Quietly, they enrich citizens, broaden markets, and build the foundations for a freer society. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 032
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Does Nonviolent Action Still Work? Read the careful analysis of Breza Race Maksimovic and Jamila Raqib to find out: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 041
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way just classified the United States as a competitive authoritarian regime under Trump. ‼️ Learn why: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 052
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026When do protest movements sometimes fail to halt democratic backsliding? 🪧 "When they fail to broaden support beyond the protest base or translate mass mobilization into effective electoral vehicles," answers @saskiabr.bsky.social. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Even marginal gains are worth the effort, writes Laura Gamboa. "Opposition parties and civil society allies must...increase the costs of remaining loyal; and...be ready to take advantage of the final break when it happens—that is, decrease the costs of defection." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 021
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026When elected leaders attack the courts, why does judicial independence sometimes survive? Read "How Courts Survive Democratic Backsliding" by Andrew O’Donohue: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 020
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026"Protecting independent media today no longer means merely preventing censorship or defending journalists from direct political interference," writes Maya Tudor. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/10/2026What is a "quiet coalition?" 🤨 🧍♂️🧍♀️ Parties may remain fully independent but still "quietly" work together 🗳️ Parties may run against each other to offer voters’ choice, but still promise to caucus together post-election Read more: @rachelkleinfeld.bsky.social muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 011
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 11/10/2026No, the solution is not for everyone to simply "calm down," insists @lilymasonphd.bsky.social. Polarization flares because a faction of the country wants to reverse social progress. "The fury of the argument shows the importance of the outcome." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 031
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Could the answer to democratic decline be...the welfare state? It seems to be protecting democratic norms in South Korea and Taiwan, writes @josephwongut.bsky.social. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 040
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 11/10/2026In a fragmented order without a major power committed to promoting democratic norms, democracies must depend on many actors whose interests rarely align with democratic ends. @senemaydndzgit.bsky.social @berkesen.bsky.social Read "The Age of Authoritarian Abundance": muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 041
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 11/10/2026The Constitutional Court is now paralyzed, key regulatory bodies sit vacant, the annual budget bill is a half-year late, and the premier has refused to countersign legislation. Can Taiwan make its divided government work? @kharist.bsky.social muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 021
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Illiberal leaders can now identify and punish bureaucrats they consider disloyal at scale, thanks to AI. How can we protect democracy-defending bureaucrats from AI overreach? @mnagawa.bsky.social muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 001
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 10/10/2026What is authoritarian AI's "last-mile problem"? 🙋 🧍Autocrats can't remove the human element of repression. Human agents are necessary to ensure repression is effective, but also to signal an autocrat's popularity. Learn why AI can't be the autocrats' silver bullet: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Can a type of technology really drive political change? Rabah Arezki says yes. Here's how: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 10/10/2026⚠️ The field of nonviolent action has fallen behind, but the tactics of authoritarians are advancing. How can democracy defenders bridge this gap? 🪧 muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Can America reverse the damage caused by the competitive authoritarianism installed by Donald Trump? 🚨 Only if both parties commit to the defense of American democracy, write Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way. 🫏 🐘 🇺🇸 muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 10/10/2026What can protests actually accomplish? 📢 They can: 🧑⚖️ Empower institutional actors to curb executive overreach 🧑🤝🧑 Mobilize disengaged citizens to vote 🙅 Erode support for incumbents Read how protests can actually halt backsliding: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026When autocratizing leaders attempt to gain power by attacking the judiciary, courts must rely on legislators, civil society groups, and international actors to help them survive executive aggrandizement. Learn more: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 011
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026How can we persuade allies of authoritarians to defect from the regime? ‼️ ✍️ Report corruption through persistent journalism Depolarize to reduce the cost of defecting 🗳️ Support defecting politicians Learn more: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 001
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026🤔 Why build a coalition? 💭 ✅ In authoritarian contexts, building a coalition can increase the chances of victory. ❌ The downside? Extreme polarization means uniting publicly with a disliked party can harm your chances. Learn how to build the right coalition: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026A divided government has caught Taiwan in a slowly escalating constitutional crisis. 🇹🇼 Learn how the dilemma is progressing and whether it will be fatal for Taiwan's democracy: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 162
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026🦠 Polarization is a symptom, not the root problem, writes Lilliana Mason. "Because political polarization is a symptom, and not the root of the problem that ails us, 'fixing' polarization will not restore American democratic health." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026🇰🇷🇹🇼 Democracy in South Korea and Taiwan has remained remarkably resilient for a surprising reason: their commitment to the welfare state.💰 Learn how this helps their democracies: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 020
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026🚨 All major powers today are either authoritarian or led by figures who are pursuing autocratizing trajectories. 🚨 What will this new "age of authoritarian abundance" entail? muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 002
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026👨💼 Civil servants' autonomy grants them the ability to quietly resist executive aggrandizement. ✍️ 🤖 AI is becoming a threat to these neglected democracy defenders. Learn how: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 101
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026🤖 AI offers autocrats advanced risk-classification and facial-recognition systems that can be used to surveil citizens en masse. 👁️ 👁️🗨️ Is AI the autocrats’ silver bullet? Read: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026📲 "Liberation technology" is the concept that digital communication can inherently deliver liberalization in authoritarian regimes. But does such a thing exist? 💬 Rabah Arezki says yes. Learn what Arezki considers "the real liberation technology" here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026🇺🇸The United States of America is now a competitive authoritarian regime.⚠️ Can nonviolent action still work to reverse the damage?👇 muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 010
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026"Protest movements become most politically consequential when they expand beyond constituencies already opposed to the government." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 021
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"The job of activists and opposition leaders is to figure out effective ways to increase the costs of supporting autocrats and would-be autocrats, while minimizing the costs of abandoning them." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 032
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"Although the influence of different judicial allies varies across cases and over time, legislators, civil society, and international institutions have each enabled courts to defend the rule of law." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 020
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"In contemporary democracies, the struggle over media is ultimately a struggle over who gets to tell the story of public life—and whether citizens retain the capacity to act on it." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"Winning once is important. Governing effectively enough to prevent antidemocratic forces from bouncing back stronger than before is essential." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"Making Taiwan’s institutions work better under divided government is no longer just about good governance. It is also increasingly a matter of national survival." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"The actual source of American partisan polarization today (and often in the past) is the degree to which the nation is disagreeing about who belongs, who deserves the full dignity and protection of U.S. laws, and who is punished for breaking those laws." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 001
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"Democratic backsliding is essentially a failure of democracies to foster inclusive economic development, rather than a failure of democratic institutions." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026"Today’s enterprising authoritarian ruler, by contrast, can get political, economic, technological, and diplomatic help from diverse combinations of states, international organizations, multinational corporations, and technology firms." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 000
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026"The expansion of the surveillance state and the rise of AI pose unprecedented threats to bureaucratic resistance against illiberal governance." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a... 021