Backsliders of democracy

Against the backdrop of the US midterm elections and the Brazilian presidential elections, we are joined by Susan Stokes to discuss the threat of democratic backsliding —and what we can do to stop it.

In her most recent book The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies (2025), Professor Stokes examines the wave of democratic erosion that has affected many countries in the early 21st century.

Join us to learn and discuss about the factors that put democracies at risk.

Meet our speaker and chair

Susan Stokes is the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor and Director of the Chicago Center on Democracy. Her research and teaching interests include democratic theory and how democracy functions in developing societies, distributive politics, and comparative political behavior. Her single and co-authored books include Mandates and Democracy: Neoliberalism by Surprise in Latin America (2001), Brokers, Voters, and Clientelism: The Puzzle of Distributive Politics (2013), and Why Bother? Rethinking Participation in Elections and Protests (2019).

Robin Archer is director of the Miliband Program and postgraduate Political Sociology at the LSE. He is the author of Why is There No Labor Party in the United States?

Any questions?

For any queries email m.bastida-Antich@lse.ac.uk.

From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.

Whilst we are hosting this listing, LSE Events does not take responsibility for the running and administration of this event. While we take responsible measures to ensure that accurate information is given here this event is ultimately the responsibility of the organisation presenting the event.

Sign up to our newsletter. Never miss an upcoming event.

LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.