Javier Pérez Sandoval Reveals Democracy’s Hidden Vulnerability: The Hollowing of the State

In this episode, Javier Pérez Sandoval discusses his Journal of Democracy essay, coauthored with Andrés Mejía Acosta, on why populist leaders often “hollow out” the state. Moving beyond familiar debates about executive aggrandizement and democratic backsliding, Pérez Sandoval argues that democracy depends on the state’s capacity to deliver essential public goods – from health and education to security, justice, and credible elections. Drawing on examples from Mexico and Argentina, he explains how both left- and right-wing populists may weaken institutions through austerity, politicization, and institutional restructuring, often prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term democratic resilience. The conversation explores how state erosion can constrain future democratic choices, undermine public trust, and create a vicious cycle that leaves democracy structurally weakened from within.

Kate Baldwin Explains Why Christianity Fights for Democracy in Africa

This episode features Yale political scientist Kate Baldwin in a conversation about her book Faith in Democracy, which challenges the assumption that religion is inherently hostile to democratic governance. Drawing on research from sub-Saharan Africa, Baldwin explains how Christian churches have often emerged as defenders of liberal democracy – not because of ideological commitments, but because democratic institutions protect church autonomy and social service work from state overreach. The conversation explores when and why churches mobilize against democratic backsliding, how institutional incentives shape political behavior, and what this reveals about the broader coalition of actors invested in sustaining democracy.

Natalie Wenzell Letsa Describes the Autocratic Voter

In this episode of The Democracy Paradox, host Justin Kempf speaks with political scientist Natalie Wenzell Letsa about why some voters genuinely support ruling parties in electoral autocracies. Drawing on her book The Autocratic Voter and fieldwork in Cameroon, Letsa explains how partisan identities form under dictatorship and what these dynamics reveal about democracy, polarization, and political behavior more broadly.

Russell Muirhead Warns Ungoverning Threatens Democracy 

In this episode of Democracy Paradox, host Justin Kempf speaks with political theorist Russell Muirhead about his book Ungoverning and the growing attack on the administrative state. Muirhead explains how “ungoverning” undermines government’s capacity to carry out basic functions, replaces expertise with personalized power, and fuels democratic backsliding. The conversation explores why effective governance is essential to democracy – regardless of ideology – and what is at stake when governing gives way to chaos.

Luis Schiumerini on Incumbency Bias

This episode of The Democracy Paradox features political scientist Luis Schiumerini discussing his new book Incumbency Bias: Why Political Office is a Blessing and a Curse in Latin America, which reveals how holding office can either help or hurt politicians depending on whether institutions give them the capacity to meet the high expectations voters place on them. Drawing on cases from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, Schiumerini explains how mismatches between responsibility and resources can produce either reelection advantages or disadvantages, showing that incumbency bias is often a natural result of democratic accountability rather than a sign of manipulation or backsliding.