Philosophers Café: On Tyranny: What is On the Rise in Liberal Democratic Societies?

A spate of books, recently published, warn of the rise of tyranny in liberal democratic societies. Perhaps the best known is Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. For those who care about democracy (“the worst form of government except for all the rest”) Snyder’s lessons call us to be vigilant. How may we engage our fellow citizens who are attracted by the nostalgia and ideals offered by tyrants? Are there pathways possible to restoring a civil temper that values difference and deepens citizenship where liberty and freedom are common bonds?