Levitsky, Steven and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies Die. New York: Crown, 2018.
What are four signs of authoritarian behaviour? The first chapter of this 231-page book by two Harvard professors of government provides an answer. Lack of commitment to democratic processes. Rejection of legitimate political opponents. Acceptance and encouragement of violence. Willingness to limit the rights of opponents. The authors then go on to provide a more detailed explanation of these traits and how they have been demonstrated in American history. While the book in its entirety is only suitable for adults and students of American history, the basic outline is a useful starting point for any class studying forms of government and can be applied to both real-life and fictional situations. Highly recommended.Â
Stories about authoritarian societies
