‘It’s a Dark Period.’ The Stanford Expert Known as “Mr. Democracy” on the Shrinking Free World

The Stanford scholar known as "Mr. Democracy" talks to TIME on the shrinking free world, the U.S.'s irreplaceable role in it and his book 'Ill Winds.'

Earlier this year, the watchdog organization Freedom House reported the 13th straight year of decline for democracy across the globe. You've been teaching the subject for 30 years. How bad are things?

It's an emerging crisis. It's not the 1930s. We don't have the situation where a blatantly fascist party has conquered a democracy.

The Stanford scholar known as "Mr. Democracy" talks to TIME on the shrinking free world, the U.S.'s irreplaceable role in it and his book 'Ill Winds.' Earlier this year, the watchdog organization Freedom House reported the 13th straight year of decline for democracy across the globe. You've been teaching the subject for 30 years. How bad are things? It's an emerging crisis. It's not the 1930s. We don't have the situation where a blatantly fascist party has conquered a democracy.