A Resilient Republic

Join Hugo Drochon, author of Elites and Democracy, as he dives into theories of democracy, makes us take a closer look at its dynamics, and asks who really rules it. Who is an elite? And what role do elites play in our expectations and headlines about government? Drawing from thinkers like Mosca, Pareto, Michels, and more, Drochon challenges our frameworks and argues that identifying the realities of political power can help us better understand how to move a republic forward.

00:00 – Introduction

00:54 – Adjusting Our Expectations of Democracy

07:22 – Theories of Democracy and Conspiracy Theories

10:57 – Who Is an Elite?

15:13 – Mosca, Pareto, and Michels

18:24 – Dynamic Democracy

24:10 – Populism in a Dynamic Democracy

27:30 – Pareto’s Foxes and Lions

33:27 – Elite Competition for Renewal

36:50 – Max Weber’s Charisma and Political Maturity

41:06 – Resilience Amidst the Uncertainty of Democracy

45:17 – The Next Elite Group to Come

Economist and professor Don Boudreaux joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, The Triumph of Economic Freedom. Boudreaux debunks common myths about the Great Depression and American trade deficits and offers an optimistic perspective on the rise of artificial intelligence, arguing that despite tradeoffs like job loss and uncertainty, free markets are the key to a resilient economy.

Stephanie Slade joins the podcast to talk about her years of research on the evolving right and the eroding foundations of American conservatism. How can we preserve liberty and virtue at the same time? How does the next generation define the good life? And how can we resist the turn toward authoritarianism, big government, and even monarchism? We discuss the ideas of Hayek, Meyer, Kirk, Reagan, the dissident right, and why rebuilding a resilient society may require recovering the moral and intellectual foundations that once sustained it.

Order or pre-order Stephanie's new book here: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268211493/fusionism/

Professor Molly Worthen wrote one of the most interesting books I've read. In this episode, we discuss her book, Spellbound, and her surprising argument that charisma isn't so much about charm or power. It's the ability to tell a story people want to live in. We unpack how different leaders build followings, why America is uniquely fertile ground for charismatic movements, and what kind of charisma can create a more resilient future.

In this very first episode, constitutional scholar Jeff Rosen joins the podcast to discuss his new book, The Pursuit of Liberty, the enduring disagreements between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and how their competing visions of government have shaped 250 years of American history, constitutional interpretation, supreme court justices, presidential powers, and civil discourse. Together, we learn why America's resilience has depended not on consensus, but on institutions capable of absorbing disagreement while preserving liberty.