The myth of sudden death
Although it makes for a great dramatic effect, the theories of the sudden death of democracy disregard the gradual erosion and capture of institutions, and the role of the populace – argues political scientist John Keane.
Earlier this year, John Keane started off a discussion on the death of democracies in Eurozine’s focal point ‘The writing on the wall’. Since then, the pace of a democracy breakdown have been discussed by several authors. Together with editor-in-chief Réka Kinga Papp, Keane discusses his article ‘How democracies die, fast and slow’ and the lack of biospheric representation as a democratic death threat.
Read John Keane’s articles in Eurozine, including the debate on the death of democracies discussed in the episode :
Bloodless democracy?
A response to John Keane
People power?
A reply to James Miller
Anthropocentrism and democracy in planetary times
A response to John Keane
How democracies transform, fast and slow
A response to John Keane
This episode is an edited version of a longer conversation, which is available in its entirety only to our Patrons. You can get access to the full episode, and more giveaways by becoming a Patron for as little as €5 a month on Patreon.
Please subscribe to Gagarin on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, Soundcloud or wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review so more people can find us. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, so you’ll always know what’s truly worth thinking about.
Published 26 May 2023
Original in English
First published by Eurozine
© Eurozine
PDF/PRINTIn collaboration with
In focal points
- The end of Tunisia’s spring?
- Protecting nature, empowering people
- Albania: Obstructed democracy
- Romania: Propaganda into votes
- The myth of sudden death
- Hungary: From housing justice to municipal opposition
- Czech Republic: Velvet contradictions
- Armenia: Light in the dark?
- Moldova: End of the experiment?
- Serbia: Setting sail for Brussels, tying up in Moscow
Invest in insight!
After over 20 years of publishing for free, Eurozine needs your support to get through an exceptionally lean year.
Become a Patron and get exciting perks for your help!
Want to hear a human voice?
Listen and subscribe wherever
you get your podcasts.
Newsletter
Subscribe to know what’s worth thinking about.
Related Articles
Protecting nature, empowering people
Environmental protests in the Balkans
How democracies transform, fast and slow
A response to John Keane
Related Articles
Reforms that would bring Albania further towards EU accession remain hampered by corruption and lack of political will. Prime minister Edi Rama, now into his third term and without a serious challenger, embodies the contradictions of the West Balkan country’s hybrid democratic system.
Romania’s anti-vax movement has mutated into a pro-Russian protest bloc. Representing a politically disenchanted online public, the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians is increasingly influencing the mainstream agenda.