The Strange Case of American Democratic Decline

The rapid and shocking erosion of the institutional guardrails protecting American democracy has left scholars scrambling for answers. While comparative research on democratic breakdown suggests that the United States’ wealth and long-standing institutions should make it largely immune to backsliding, recent events reveal a puzzling anomaly.

Join Paul Pierson, award-winning political scientist at UC Berkeley, as he examines why U.S. democracy is under stress, what factors make this crisis unique, and what lessons comparative politics can offer. Students will gain insight into the forces reshaping American politics today, including partisan polarization, institutional dynamics, and the broader political economy — and why it all matters for the future of democracy.

This event is a part of the School of Politics and Global Studies Kramer Lecture Series, in honor of William Kramer. Read more about it here.