LSE: The Ballpark | After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy with Professor Ian Shapiro

About this episode

Professor Ian Shapiro discusses the rise of populism and the crisis of democracy in the context of his new book.

From the rise of Donald Trump in the US, Brexit in the United Kingdom and Victor Orban in Hungary and National Rally in France, anti-system populists have seen a resurgence in many western democracies in the last decade. In his new book, “After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World” Professor Ian Shapiro of Yale University and Visiting Professor at the Phelan US Centre, looks at why voters in these countries have become disaffected and how the policies adopted by elites following the end of the Cold War have allowed populism to flourish. In January 2026 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Shapiro about his new book. The conversation covered how the 2008 financial crisis and the collapse of inclusive economic growth has led to the growth of populism and a crisis of democracy. They also discussed the US’ turn away from democracy promotion and Trump’s “America First” policies and how political and economic elites must prioritise inclusive growth which can help to restore democratic legitimacy. This episode was produced by Chris Gilson and Avan Fata. Further reading and resources: • After the Fall: From the End of History to…

People in this episode

Guest: Professor Ian Shapiro

Topics covered

• populism
• democracy
• economic growth
• political elites
• disaffection
• anti-system movements

Keywords

• populism
• democracy crisis
• economic insecurity
• political elites
• inclusive growth
• Trump
• Brexit
• financial crisis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yale University, Phelan US Centre, Basic Books, Harvard University Press

Books & works: After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World, The Wolf at the Door: The Menace of Economic Insecurity and How to Fight It, The Real World of Democratic Theory

Places: United States, United Kingdom, Hungary, France

More episodes of LSE Podcasts

• Should we take hypnotherapy more seriously? · June 9, 2026 · 33 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | EU-China relations in the Trump era with Noah Barkin · June 8, 2026 · 34 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the unmaking of Europe with Professor Nathalie Tocci · May 26, 2026 · 28 min
• Should animals have rights? · May 12, 2026 · 30 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | China under siege: how Beijing sees the United States with Dr Yu Jie · May 11, 2026 · 26 min
• LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the future of US-EU relations with Professor Kathleen McNamara · April 27, 2026 · 34 min