After backsliding, democracy often comes back weaker and more fragile

After backsliding, democracy often comes back weaker and more fragile Losing democracy once can make it harder to restore it, even after a democratic government returns to power. University of Birmingham professor Nic Cheeseman analyzed three decades of data.

World

January 31, 20264:50 PM ET

Heard on All Things Considered

By 

Ahmad Damen

, 

Sarah McCammon

, 

Avery Keatley

After backsliding, democracy often comes back weaker and more fragile

Audio will be available later today.

Losing democracy once can make it harder to restore it, even after a democratic government returns to power. University of Birmingham professor Nic Cheeseman analyzed three decades of data.