The People vs. Democracy

Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It

By: Yascha Mounk

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon

The world is in turmoil. From India to Turkey and from Poland to the United States, authoritarian populists have seized power. As a result, Yascha Mounk shows, democracy itself may now be at risk.

Two core components of liberal democracy - individual rights and the popular will - are increasingly at war with each other. As the role of money in politics soared and important issues were taken out of public contestation, a system of “rights without democracy” took hold. Populists who rail against this say they want to return power to the people. But in practice they create something just as bad: a system of “democracy without rights.”

The consequence, Mounk shows in The People vs. Democracy, is that trust in politics is dwindling. Citizens are falling out of love with their political system. Democracy is wilting away. Drawing on vivid stories and original research, Mounk identifies three key drivers of voters’ discontent: stagnating living standards, fears of multiethnic democracy, and the rise of social media. To reverse the trend, politicians need to enact radical reforms that benefit the many, not the few.

The People vs. Democracy is the first book to go beyond a mere description of the rise of populism. In plain language, it describes both how we got here and where we need to go. For those unwilling to give up on either individual rights or the popular will, Mounk shows, there is little time to waste: this may be our last chance to save democracy.

©2018 Yascha Mounk (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

A Must Read

A real comprehensive look at what is happening in the United States and around the world as populist governments seem to pop up all over. if you are a fan of Mounk's excellent podcast you will find the narrator a little underwhelming in comparison to Mounk's lively way of speaking.
There is a lot to learn in here and, coming from the left, some sacred cows slain.

a must read in the new age of political populism

excellent read, super relevant. research based. narration was decent, not great. audio quality was not superb. Yascha Mounk is a treasure. his podcast "the good fight" expands on many of the points touched on in The People vs. Democracy. this should be required reading for all lovers of liberty.

good food for thought,

we should not assume that the end liberal democracy means a fall into ruin. ok

As brilliantly appropriate in 2025 as it was in 2018

A unique and detailed discussion of past and current threats to the democratic means of self government with a solid and actionable conclusion outlining what must be done by each of us to combat anti-democratic forces.

Final part is worth it

Great review of populism and “how we got here”

If you keep up with politics pretty well, skip to the final section where he makes recommendations.