Democracy in Danger: Daniel Ziblatt on Trump and authoritarian politics

Democracy does not only come under threat when parliaments are closed, parties are banned or journalists are arrested. Modern authoritarian politics often operates more quietly, more strategically and more institutionally. It changes rules, weakens independent institutions, puts political opponents under pressure, reshapes media landscapes and makes opposition more costly, more risky and less effective.

In this edition of Talking Europe, the Europapodcast presents a recording of the event “Democracy in Danger: An Evening with Daniel Ziblatt”, which took place on May 6, 2026, at the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin. The event was part of the series “Writing Democracy: Stories, Ideas, and Arguments On and Off the Page”, a cooperation between Bard College Berlin and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Daniel Ziblatt on democratic erosion and competitive authoritarianism

Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of Government at Harvard University and Director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, is one of the leading international voices in democracy research. Together with Steven Levitsky, he published “How Democracies Die” and “Tyranny of the Minority”. Both books have become key references in debates on democratic erosion, authoritarian parties and the vulnerabilities of liberal democracies.

In conversation with journalist Joshua Yaffa, Ziblatt analyzes the state of American democracy under Donald Trump. At the center of the discussion is the argument that the United States is not simply facing a classic dictatorship. Rather, Ziblatt describes dynamics that resemble competitive authoritarianism: a political system in which opposition formally remains possible, while the political playing field is increasingly tilted in favor of those in power.

Donald Trump, MAGA and the crisis of democratic institutions

The discussion focuses on key developments in the United States: attacks on political opponents, the instrumentalization of state agencies, pressure on media outlets and universities, gerrymandering, the role of the Supreme Court and the question of whether elections alone are enough to legitimize politics democratically.

Ziblatt emphasizes that democracy does not simply mean winning elections. Democracy also requires those in power to respect democratic rules, rights, institutions and norms after an election. This is precisely where it becomes clear whether a democracy remains resilient or gradually slides into an authoritarian political system.

The AfD, the CDU and the responsibility of established parties

Another major focus of the episode is the question of how democratic parties should respond to authoritarian challengers. Should they cooperate with radical right-wing parties in order to contain or integrate them? Or does such cooperation normalize their language, their strategies and their political position?

Ziblatt also refers to Germany, the AfD, the role of the CDU and the particular responsibility of established parties in defending democratic norms. The way democratic parties deal with radical parties helps determine whether democratic systems clearly mark their boundaries or whether authoritarian forces can gradually move into the political mainstream.

Hungary after Viktor Orbán: what democratic resistance can achieve

Toward the end, the conversation turns to Hungary. A defeat of Viktor Orbán would not automatically prove that the political system had been fair beforehand. Rather, the example shows that opposition forces can win even on a tilted political playing field if they are broad-based, united and strategically capable.

This offers important lessons for democracies in Europe and the United States: authoritarian consolidation is not inevitable. But democratic resistance requires strong institutions, broad coalitions, political courage and clear democratic principles.

In this episode

In this episode of Talking Europe, Joshua Yaffa and Daniel Ziblatt discuss the question of when a democracy ceases to be a full democracy. The conversation focuses on competitive authoritarianism, Donald Trump, MAGA, gerrymandering, the Supreme Court, institutional distortions in the United States, the role of media, universities and civil society, and the responsibility of established parties when dealing with authoritarian challengers.

The episode also addresses the AfD, the CDU, the danger of political normalization, Hungary after Viktor Orbán, corruption as a mobilizing issue against authoritarian politics and the question of how democracies can remain resilient.

About Joshua Yaffa and Daniel Ziblatt

Joshua Yaffa is Writer in Residence at Bard College Berlin and a contributing writer for The New Yorker.

Daniel Ziblatt is Eaton Professor of Government at Harvard University and Director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies. Together with Steven Levitsky, he published “How Democracies Die” and “Tyranny of the Minority”.

About Talking Europe

Talking Europe is a cooperation between the Europapodcast and the European Democracy Institute at Bard College Berlin. We bring exclusive debates from Germany, Europe and the United States to the podcast. The focus is on informed perspectives on the issues currently shaping politics and society: democracy, the rule of law, transatlantic relations, the European public sphere and life in the European Union.

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