Daniel Ziblatt

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Daniel Ziblatt is a Harvard University Political Science Professor, an award-winning author, and an international expert on the history of democracy and authoritarianism in Europe. He is the author of the New York Times best-selling books How Democracies Die, Conservative Parties and The Right to Rule: How States Win and Lose Legitimacy.

Born in Stuttgart, Germany on April 7, 1966, Ziblatt grew up with a passion for democratic values and an interest in political science. He first trained as a historian of modern German history at the University of Berlin, then moved to the United States to pursue a PhD in Political Science at Harvard University.

As a professor of Political Science at Harvard, Ziblatt has experienced a significant amount of success and international recognition for his investigations into the foundations and development of political systems in Europe. His scholarship focuses on the causes and consequences of instability and democratization. In his New York Times best-selling book Conservative Parties and The Right to Rule: How States Win and Lose Legitimacy, Ziblatt examines the history and functioning of the European conservative parties and their contribution to the decline of democracy in Europe.

Ziblatt’s second major work, How Democracies Die, co-authored with Steven Levitsky of Harvard University, builds upon much of his earlier research on conservative parties, but with the main purpose of examining the breakdown of democracies across the world. Through an extensive study of democracies that were ultimately overcome by authoritarianism, Ziblatt and Levitsky uncover a pattern of breakdowns and reveal the methods that authoritarians use to gain or maintain power. The authors examine case studies in several different countries, including Hungary, Poland and the US, to demonstrate how democratic norms can be eroded, and how governments can gradually fall into autocracies.

The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the political state of the world today. It is accessible and well written. The authors explain complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way and use examples from history to illustrate the dangers of democratic breakdown. The authors argue that democracies die when parties and political leaders become too powerful and no longer look to protect existing democratic institutions. The authors warn of a dangerous ‘authoritarian know-how’ spreading throughout the world, as autocratic regimes become more practiced at undermining democracy.

Ziblatt’s work exemplifies the importance of careful and thoughtful studies of the history of democracy and authoritarianism. His writings provide invaluable insight into the complex global political landscape, and offer guidance for understanding the recent rise of populism and autocracy. His books and research serve as an essential resource for those seeking to improve their political knowledge and understanding.