government
Hosted by Justin Kempf · government · EN-US
Is it possible for a democracy to govern undemocratically? Can the people elect an undemocratic leader? Is it possible for democracy to bring about authoritarianism? And if so, what does this say about democracy? My name is Justin Kempf. Every week I talk to the brightest minds on subjects like international relations, political theory, and history to explore democracy from every conceivable angle. Topics like civil resistance, authoritarian successor parties, and the autocratic middle class challenge our ideas about democracy. Join me as we unravel new topics every week.
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Contact path
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Booking probability
36%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchIs it possible for a democracy to govern undemocratically? Can the people elect an undemocratic leader? Is it possible for democracy to bring about authoritarianism? And if so, what does this say about democracy? My name is Justin Kempf.
Democracy Paradox is hosted by Justin Kempf. The show has published 240 episodes to date.
Recent episodes include "Francis Fukuyama Reflects on the End of History and His Legacy" (28 October 2026, 48 minutes), "Michael McFaul Says Powerful Autocracies as a Lasting Threat" (14 October 2026, 47 minutes), and "Ian Shapiro Says the Left's "Preemptive Capitulation" to Neoliberalism Paved the Way for Populism" (30 September 2026, 49 minutes).
Democracy Paradox publishes roughly every two weeks, with episodes averaging 49 minutes across 240 episodes.
Booking probability for Democracy Paradox is 36%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Democracy Paradox requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Democracy Paradox's contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for Democracy Paradox are Government & Politics. Democracy Paradox has a government audience.
Justin Kempf hosts Democracy Paradox, a government podcast with 240 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #29
I'm not sure that that understanding of American exceptionalism is that powerful and that the United States may be a much more ordinary kind of democracy than I used to think. Francis Fukuyama Francis Fukuyama is the...
Episode #28
We don’t need to export ideas about freedom and democracy because those ideas are already really popular around the world. Michael McFaul Why do some powerful countries become adversaries while others remain enduring...
Episode #27
If we want people to support democratic capitalism, it has to be a kind of democratic capitalism that delivers for most people, and we haven't had that. Ian Shapiro What went wrong after the Cold War – and what can...
Episode #26
The irony of democratic backsliding is a lot of these things are pitched to people and understood by people as actually pro-democratic. Noam Lupu Support for democracy is rising across the Americas after more than a...
Episode #26
There was an assumption that influence could only run one direction... but influence could run the other direction as well. Alexander Cooley Authoritarian governments are exercising growing influence not only within...
Democracy Paradox
We barely disagree with each other, but we can't stand one another's party. Suzanne Mettler Suzanne Mettler is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions at Cornell University. She is the coauthor of Four...
Episode #24
I'm by nature optimistic, but am extremely worried because of the structural moment we live in. Rachel Beatty Riedl Political scientist Rachel Beatty Riedl joins host Justin Kempf to examine how extreme economic...
Episode #23
You can only get to the point of restoring democratic institutions if you win the last election with such a huge majority that you really have the public with you as you make radical change. Kim Lane Scheppele Kim Lane...
Episode #22
The question is not whether polarization is dangerous, but the conditions under which it becomes violent. Jeffrey Kopstein Jeffrey Kopstein joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss when polarization turns violent. Drawing...
Episode #21
We think the next ten years are going to be anti-billionaire. Pepper Culpepper Pepper Culpepper joins the Democracy Paradox to discuss when populism can strengthen democracy. Drawing on his Journal of Democracy article...
Episode #20
We think of World War II as this global democratizing event, but what it really did was strengthen left-wing authoritarianism. Dan Slater Dan Slater is the James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and the...
Episode #19
What happens when the violent state forged under autocracy survives into democracy? Guillermo Trejo In this episode of The Democracy Paradox , Kellogg faculty fellow Guillermo Trejo discusses his new book...
Episode #18
The left pays a very steep price when they break with democratic norms and procedures. Kenneth Roberts Kenneth Roberts is the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government at Cornell University. He is the coauthor (with...
Episode #17
If democracy wants to regain the upper hand, it has to not only do a better job than the other guys, but in fact, a good job. Sheri Berman This episode features a conversation with political scientist Sheri Berman on...
Episode #16
Sharp power seeks to exploit the openness of free societies because their institutions are open. Christopher Walker Christopher Walker, a leading expert on authoritarian influence, returns to the origins of the concept...
Episode #15
I don't think populism is necessarily a challenge to democracy. I think it's part and parcel of it. Hugo Drochon Hugo Drochon joins The Democracy Paradox to explore why elites are an unavoidable part of democracy – and...
Episode #14
We are badly mismeasuring whether and how much people care about democracy. Milan Svolik In this episode of the Democracy Paradox , host Justin Kempf speaks with political scientist Milan Svolik , the Elizabeth S. & A...
Episode #13
The paradox of dictatorship is that dictatorships do well when they do not have a genuine dictator. Minxin Pei In this episode of Democracy Paradox , Justin Kempf speaks with China scholar Minxin Pei about his book The...
Episode #12
Traditional programmatic parties serve as a critical guardrail for democracy. Erica Frantz In this episode, Justin Kempf speaks with Erica Frantz about her book The Origins of Elected Strongmen and the rise of...
Episode #11
By dismantling certain capacities today, you're making the democratic choices of tomorrow harder. Javier Pérez Sandoval In this episode, Javier Pérez Sandoval discusses his Journal of Democracy essay, coauthored with...
Recent guests on Democracy Paradox. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
professor of political science and global affairs at Yale University, Building Research Establishment
Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs & Director of the Program in Law and Normative Thinking, University of Miami School of Law
professor of political science, Barnard College, Columbia University
Vice President for Studies and Analysis, Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako
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