An article in The Observer reviewed a recent lecture given by Former Visiting Fellow Steven Levitsky about the current political climate of the United States.  The lecture was based on the contents of his book How Democracies Die (Penguin Random House, 2018) and was part of the larger Kellogg-sponsored series titled “Perspectives on World Politics.” 

In his lecture, Levitsky said,“The problem is not just electing a demagogue in 2016, but electing one at a time when the soft guard rails of mutual toleration and forbearance don’t seem to be there...Donald Trump is a symptom of polarization but not the cause.”