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Jay calls Larry Diamond "Mr. Democracy." Professor Diamond has devoted his career to the study and advocacy of democracy — a very important thing to study and advocate. "The worst system of government except for all others."

In this "Q&A," Jay covers some basic questions with his guest: Why is democracy so important? The United States is a republic, not a democracy, right? 

They also talk about Iraq, where people dipped their fingers purple, in those heady, hopeful days. What happened? Africa, too, comes under discussion. On this continent, there are more democratic successes than we may realize.

With Jay, Professor Diamond spends some time on Russia: which is challenging democracies in Europe and elsewhere.

At the end of the podcast, Jay mentions something that a historian mentioned to him: Things can go backward. Fascism, racism, other illiberalism: They can resurface and rise. "Tomorrow belongs to me," sings a young Nazi in "Cabaret."

This is an interesting discussion.

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