Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point

Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point (2023) is a nonfiction book written by Harvard political scientists Drs. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. The book has two goals. First, the authors demonstrate how the US, through its antiquated political institutions, is uniquely susceptible to authoritarian rule compared to other established western democracies. Second, the authors show how to reverse the democratic backslide currently facing the country. To build rapport with readers, especially given the contentious nature of their argument (i.e., not all Americans will agree that authoritarianism is on the rise or that the Republican Party has turned away from democracy), the authors support their claims with data and historical and contemporary examples from around the world. Levitsky and Ziblatt hope to both sound the alarm and mobilize readers to action. While they believe that the situation is dire for American democracy, they also believe it is not too late to stop the USA’s democratic backsliding. Tyranny of the Minority is a New York Times bestseller.

This guide uses the 2023 Crown hardcover edition.

Content Warning: The guide and source text discuss racism, hate speech, genocide and displacement of Black Americans, and systemic inequalities throughout US history.