
Ivan Krastev on Why Even Dictators Can’t Escape Democracy
From The Good Fight by New America
April 14, 2026 · 57 min
About this episode
Yascha Mounk and Ivan Krastev discuss the resilience of democratic institutions and the implications of authoritarianism in the context of recent political events.
Yascha Mounk and Ivan Krastev also discuss the war in Iran—and what it means for Trump’s future. Ivan Krastev is the chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies, and Albert Hirschman Permanent Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences, IWM Vienna. In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Ivan Krastev discuss how Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule in Hungary came to an end, why democratic institutions proved more resilient than many expected, and what lessons this holds for understanding the limits of competitive authoritarianism. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Yascha Mounk
Guest: Ivan Krastev
Topics covered
- democracy
- authoritarianism
- political resilience
- Hungary
- Iran
- Trump
Keywords
- democracy
- authoritarianism
- Hungary
- Viktor Orbán
- Iran
- Trump
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Centre for Liberal Strategies, Institute for Human Sciences
Places: Hungary, Iran
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