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We're in a new era of naked power politics, says Yascha Mounk, author of The Great Experiment
Confidence in democracy is declining in the West at the same time authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have become more transparent about their demands and lack of respect for democracy, Johns Hopkins University professor Yascha Mounk tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.
Mounk, author of a new book, "The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure," explains why authoritarians are on the rise. The new era of naked power politics is illustrated by the way Putin is transforming Russia into a repressive regime, no longer caring what people think about his ambitions. Putin believes the West is decadent while he views himself as a strong leader with traditional values.
Mounk cites tribalism and extreme partisanship as the biggest threats for democracy in the 21st century. In his view, democracy in diverse nations has particular challenges – for example, racism and disparities in wealth in the US -- but Mounk does offer some reasons for hope for the future.