[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f8vyzhdzg29XU2GWzv8DTifJBfZBifwQHmWfBndNRitc":3,"$fImtxYcUj_B2T8UCr8PxPJ5b3y5supdx2gf5yPB0yiGo":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},61745,"Steven Levitsky","S",53,null,"steven-levitsky",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":78},[14,22,28,34,40,47,53,59,65,72],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},3449486,"In Malaysia, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad used a politically loyal police force and a packed judiciary to investigate, arrest, and imprison his leading rival, Anwar Ibrahim, on sodomy charges in the late 1990s.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":25,"source":26,"quote_tag":27,"commentary":9},3449485,"President Trump demonstrated striking hostility toward the referees – law enforcement, intelligence, ethics agencies, and the courts.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":29,"quote_text":30,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":9},3449484,"Two basic norms have preserved America’s checks and balances in ways we have come to take for granted: mutual toleration, or the understanding that competing parties accept one another as legitimate rivals, and forbearance, or the idea that politicians should exercise restraint in deploying their institutional prerogatives.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":35,"quote_text":36,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":37,"source":38,"quote_tag":39,"commentary":9},3449483,"That brings us to a final factor shaping President Trump’s ability to damage our democracy: crisis. Major security crises – wars or large-scale terrorist attacks – are political game changers. Almost invariably, they increase support for the government. Citizens become more likely to tolerate, and even endorse, authoritarian measures when they fear for their security.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":41,"quote_text":42,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":43,"source":44,"quote_tag":45,"commentary":46},3449482,"Those who denounce government abuse may be dismissed as exaggerating or crying wolf. Democracy’s erosion is, for many, almost imperceptible.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote from Steven Levitsky, a renowned scholar on democracy and authoritarianism, was likely written during a period of rising concerns about democratic backsliding in the early 2010s. As a professor at Harvard University, Levitsky was actively researching and writing about the erosion of democratic institutions in various countries, including the United States. His work was influenced by the growing awareness of the ways in which authoritarian leaders were manipulating democratic systems to consolidate power.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a paradoxical truth about the nature of democratic decline. On one hand, it is easy to dismiss warnings about government abuse as exaggerations or cries of \"wolf.\" However, the reality is that democracy's erosion is often a gradual process, imperceptible to many observers, until it is too late. This insight highlights the tension between the need for vigilance and the risk of false alarms, which can lead to complacency and inaction.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset in today's fast-paced, information-rich environment, consider adopting a \"slow democracy\" approach. Instead of being swept up in the latest news cycles or social media outrage, take a step back and engage in deliberate, long-term observation of democratic trends and institutions. By doing so, you can develop a more nuanced understanding of the subtle signs of erosion and take proactive steps to protect and strengthen democratic norms.",{"id":48,"quote_text":49,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":50,"source":51,"quote_tag":52,"commentary":9},3449481,"Demagogues attack their critics in harsh and provocative terms – as enemies, as subversives, and even as terrorists.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":54,"quote_text":55,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":56,"source":57,"quote_tag":58,"commentary":9},3449480,"Some of history’s most tragic democratic breakdowns were preceded by the degrading of basic norms.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":60,"quote_text":61,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":62,"source":63,"quote_tag":64,"commentary":9},3449479,"It was the Civil Rights Act, which Democratic president Lyndon Johnson embraced and 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater opposed, that would define the Democrats as the party of civil rights and Republicans as the party of racial status quo.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":66,"quote_text":67,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":68,"source":69,"quote_tag":70,"commentary":71},3449478,"These two norms undergirded American democracy for most of the twentieth century. Leaders of the two major parties accepted one another as legitimate and resisted the temptation to use their temporary control of institutions to maximum partisan advantage.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nSteven Levitsky, a political scientist, wrote this quote in the context of his research on democratic erosion. During the early 2000s, Levitsky was observing a shift in American politics, where the norms of democratic behavior were beginning to fray. At that time, the two-party system was still largely intact, but the growing polarization and partisanship hinted at a more fragile democratic landscape.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe hidden insight in this quote lies in the tension between two seemingly contradictory norms: acceptance of one's opponents as legitimate and the desire to maximize partisan advantage. Levitsky is highlighting a paradox: leaders who prioritize long-term democratic stability must resist the temptation to exploit short-term power, even if it means forgoing immediate gains. This requires a level of self-restraint and trust in the democratic process that is increasingly rare in contemporary politics.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's fast-paced, winner-takes-all business environment, professionals and creatives can apply this mindset by recognizing the value of \"good enough\" decisions over short-term victories. By prioritizing long-term relationships, trust, and cooperation over immediate gains, individuals can build a stronger foundation for success that will serve them well in the long run.",{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":75,"source":76,"quote_tag":77,"commentary":9},3449477,"The second category in our litmus test is the denial of the legitimacy of one’s opponents. Authoritarian politicians cast their rivals as criminal, subversive, unpatriotic, or a threat to national security or the existing way of life.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"currentPage":79,"totalPages":17,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":80},1,10]