Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 10, 2026 · 47 MIN

Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter

from Democracy Paradox · host Justin Kempf

We think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was strengthen left-wing authoritarianism.Dan SlaterDan Slater is the James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center of Emerging Democracies at the University of Michigan. He is the coauthor (with Joseph Wong) of the book From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia. More recently, he authored the article "The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave" in the Journal of Democracy. 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 HighlightsIntroduction - 0:20Why Scholars Stopped Taking Ideology Seriously - 3:02The Difference Between Authoritarian Left and Right - 5:31Why the Third Wave Narrative Gets the History Wrong - 20:45Can Democracy Survive Ideological Extremes - 33:43LinksLearn more about Dan Slater.Read his article in the Journal of Democracy, "The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave."Learn more about the Center for Emerging Democracies.Learn more about the Kellogg Institute.Apes of the State created all MusicEmail comments or questions to [email protected] the show

We think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was strengthen left-wing authoritarianism. Dan Slater Dan Slater is the James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center of Emerging Democracies at the University of Michigan. He is the coauthor (with Joseph Wong) of the book From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia. More recently, he authored the article "The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave" in t...

NOW PLAYING

Dan Slater Says Authoritarian Ideologies Still Matter

0:00 47:09

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Supreme Court Justices Supme All advertisements are placed at the beginning of each episode, ensuring you experience Supreme Court Justices without interruptions. No mid-episode advertising cuts, no breaks in our judicial coverage. Just press play, and let the Supreme Court analysis unfold uninterrupted.When the gavel strikes and Supreme Court justices take the bench, history unfolds. Supreme Court Justices is where the Supreme Court of America becomes essential conversation, where America Supreme Court decisions shape society, and where every ruling—from latest Supreme Court decisions to historic judgments by first Supreme Court justices—receives the analysis it deserves. This is where Supreme Court of U.S. authority meets constitutional interpretation, where justice on the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of U.S. tradition converge.We explore everything that makes the Supreme Court vital to democracy. From breaking Supreme Court today judgment coverage to analyzing Supreme Court latest Civic Media Spotlight Civic Media Civic Media is a pro-democracy radio network serving local communities in Wisconsin. Hear a sample of our best programming from the past week from across our statewide network. Listen Live: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday Sunday Breaking the Sound Barrier by Amy Goodman Democracy Now! Goodman and Moynihan report each week on the people and places caught in the middle, the ones most directly affected by policy debates, war and social issues. The column breaks through the glib clichés, dogmatic language and overall static that has permeated mainstream media coverage. Goodman and Moynihan’s unrestrained commentary from the front lines resonates with a generation that has an uncanny ability to spot the inauthentic in any discourse. The energy and passion for the truth found in this column inspires and rouses readers young Goodman and Moynihan report each week on the people and places caught in the middle, the ones most directly affected by policy debates, war and social issues. The column breaks through the glib clichés, dogmatic language and overall static that has permeated mainstream media coverage. Goodman and Moynihan’s unrestrained commentary from the front lines resonates with a generation that has an uncanny ability to spot the inauthentic in any discourse. The Open to Debate Open to Debate America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned analysis. We examine the issues of the day with the world’s most influential thinkers spanning science, technology, politics, culture, and global affairs. It’s time to build a stronger, more united democracy with the civil exchange of ideas. Be open-minded. Be curious. Be ready to listen. Join us in being Open to Debate. (Formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Democracy Paradox?

This episode is 47 minutes long.

When was this Democracy Paradox episode published?

This episode was published on June 10, 2026.

What is this episode about?

We think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was strengthen left-wing authoritarianism.Dan SlaterDan Slater is the James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center of Emerging...

Can I download this Democracy Paradox episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!