With political tensions rising and trust in institutions falling, a new book by University of Chicago political scientist Prof. Susan C. Stokes explains why modern democracies are struggling and what citizens can do to help.
Her book, The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies, examines how democratically elected leaders slowly weaken their own systems of government, and why this trend has become more common in the 21st century.
Early in her career, Stokes saw countries in Southern Europe, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union move toward democracy. Now, she says the trend has reversed. More democracies are weakening from within instead of authoritarian regimes collapsing.
Her research started with a 2021 Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, which let her study how today’s leaders weaken democratic institutions like courts, the media, and the rule of law.
The key finding: inequality makes democracies weaker
One of Stokes’s main findings is that economic inequality is a key factor in the decline of democracies.
Her large cross-national study, published in PNAS in 2024, found a strong link between high income inequality and the weakening of democracy. The study also showed that even rich and established democracies are at risk when people feel the economy is unfair.
Stokes explains the connection like this:
- High inequality creates frustration and resentment.
- This fuels partisan polarization.
- A polarized public is more willing to tolerate leaders who attack democratic institutions.
“When people feel the system is rigged against them, they become more willing to accept behavior that undermines democracy,” Stokes said.
The book teaches readers how to spot the signs of democratic backsliding and how to tell them apart from regular political disagreements. Stokes points out that backsliders can be found on all sides of politics:
- Right-wing ethno-nationalists
- Left-wing populists
Both groups can weaken institutions if the public is too divided to resist.
She also talks about “near-miss” countries that almost experienced serious backsliding, showing that strong public resistance or good checks and balances can help prevent it.
Stokes wanted the book to do more than just analyze problems. She also offers practical ways to resist the decline of democracy.
She organizes her advice by groups:
- Policymakers and campaigners can fight polarization and rebuild trust.
- Journalists can expose errors, scandals, and poor performance by leaders.
- Professional organizations can defend ethical standards and democratic norms.
- Everyday citizens can stay alert to anti-democratic rhetoric and vote accordingly.
“We owe it to people to give them a sense of what can be done,” Stokes said. “It’s not inevitable.”
With democratic backsliding happening in many countries at the same time, Stokes says writing the book was hard because things change so quickly. Still, she believes careful analysis is important and that many people find it reassuring.
“When I speak to the public, they feel comforted knowing that we can understand this and respond,” she said. “It’s not mysterious or unstoppable.”
As democracy feels more fragile than ever, The Backsliders aims to help readers spot warning signs and take action before it is too late.