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Susan Stokes

Susan Stokes

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Susan Stokes is Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Faculty Director of the Chicago Center on Democracy. She is the author, most recently, of the forthcoming Trash-Talking Democracy: Why Leaders Erode Their Democracies and How to Stop Them (Princeton University Press, 2025).

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  1. Inequality Spurs Democratic Backsliding
    sstokes4_Scott OlsonGetty Images_trump Scott Olson/Getty Images

    Inequality Spurs Democratic Backsliding

    Jul 11, 2024 Susan Stokes shows that countries with fairer economies are less likely to succumb to authoritarian populism.

  2. Neutralizing Trump’s Big Lies
    sstokes3_Jabin BotsfordThe Washington Post via Getty Images_trump Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Neutralizing Trump’s Big Lies

    Jun 27, 2023 Susan Stokes sees reason to believe that even Republican voters can be persuaded to face facts.

  3. No Impunity for Insurrectionists
    sstokes2_SERGIO LIMAAFP via Getty Images_brazil SERGIO LIMA/AFP via Getty Images

    No Impunity for Insurrectionists

    Jan 10, 2023 Susan Stokes explains why indicting former leaders like Jair Bolsonaro or Donald Trump is both right and necessary.

  4. The Global Struggle for Democracy Is in Ukraine
    sstokes1_ Chris McGrathGetty Images_ukraine russia Chris McGrathGetty Images
    Free to read

    The Global Struggle for Democracy Is in Ukraine

    Mar 4, 2022 Susan Stokes hopes that Russia’s invasion will instill a renewed sense of common purpose among free societies.

  1. akufoaddo2_ CRISTINA ALDEHUELAAFP via Getty Images_ghanavaccine Cristina Aldehuela/AFP via Getty Images

    The Key to Africa’s Vaccine Sovereignty

    Nana Akufo-Addo urges donor governments to build on successful efforts to boost immunization across the continent.
  2. gill9_Alet PretoriusGallo Images via Getty Images_africadebt Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images via Getty Images

    For Developing Economies, the Finance Landscape Has Become a Wasteland

    Indermit Gill shows that current conditions give the world's poorest countries no chance to achieve sustained growth.
  3. velasco154_ SAUL LOEBAFP via Getty Images_trump SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

    How Not to React to Donald Trump

    Andrés Velasco calls for more serious thinking by progressives and fewer knee-jerk calls to “abandon neoliberalism.”
  4. acemoglu81_Kent NishimuraGettyImages_capitol_post_protest Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

    The Fall and Rise of American Democracy

    Daron Acemoglu

    Over time, as American democracy has increasingly fallen short of delivering on its core promises, the Democratic Party has contributed to the problem by catering to a narrow, privileged elite. To restore its own prospects and America’s signature form of governance, it must return to its working-class roots.

    is not surprised that so many voters ignored warnings about the threat Donald Trump poses to US institutions.
  5. GettyImages-876226276

    Enrique Krauze on Baruch Spinoza, the US election, Mexican democracy, and more

    Enrique Krauze considers the responsibility of the state to guarantee freedom, heralds the demise of Mexico’s democracy, highlights flaws in higher-education systems, and more.
  6. khrushcheva188_Chris McGrathGetty Images_ukraine Chris McGrath/Getty Images

    Does a Savage War of Partition Await Ukraine?

    Nina L. Khrushcheva traces the grim history of territorial divisions like the one that Donald Trump seems to be envisioning.
  7. varoufakis121_Justin SullivanGettyImages_chinese_conainers_oakland Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    America’s Trade Deficit Is Not Afraid of Donald Trump

    Yanis Varoufakis shows why the incoming US administration can’t eliminate the negative balance – and wouldn’t even if it could.
  8. kuttab60_CHANDAN KHANNAAFP via Getty Images_trumpisrael Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s Middle East Challenge

    Daoud Kuttab highlights the changes in the region that will complicate the US president-elect's peacemaking efforts.
  9. watkins30_ Stanislav KogikuSOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_sdgs Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Last Chance for the SDGs?

    Kevin Watkins thinks the fate of the 2030 targets hinges on the next International Development Association replenishment.

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