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Podcast Episode

Was 2024 the Year Democracy Faltered—or Fought Back?

What can the elections of 2024 tell us about the state of democracy worldwide? Sophia Besch sits down with Thomas Carothers to unpack key theories and narratives shaping our understanding of this pivotal election year.

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By Sophia Besch and Thomas Carothers
Published on Dec 19, 2024

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What can the elections of 2024 tell us about the state of democracy worldwide? This year has seen a flurry of elections across democracies, sparking debate among analysts about their implications for global democratic health.

As the year draws to a close, Sophia sits down with Thomas Carothers, Director of the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program at Carnegie and leading expert on democracy and international politics. Their conversation unpacks key theories like the "bonfire of incumbents," and explores the narratives shaping our understanding of this pivotal election year.

  1. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, Tyranny of the Majority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point, (Crown, 2023).
  2. Thomas Carothers, "Three Conclusions from the Global Year of Elections," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 18, 2024.

Host: Sophia Besch

Executive Producer & Audio Engineer: Heewon Park

Videographer: Cameron Zotter

Hosted by

Sophia Besch
Former Senior Fellow, Europe Program
Sophia Besch

Featuring

Thomas Carothers
Harvey V. Fineberg Chair for Democracy Studies; Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Thomas Carothers

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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