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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater
@dnsltr.bsky.social
3.6K followers 720 following 88 posts
James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and Director of Center for Emerging Democracies @ University of Michigan (@umichDemocracy). SE Asia, authoritarianism, democracy, history. Personal heroes include Thomas Mann, Michael Mann, & Aimee Mann.
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Nov 23
Weak autocracies are far more common than strong autocracies.

They are also often far more dangerous and damaging than strong autocracies.

Never take hope from an autocrat’s weakness. Instead, prepare for the worst.

A 🧵 based on 2 of my books: (1/N)
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · 28d
Stackable syllabus!
The State in Comparative & World Politics
Autumn 2025, @umichpolisci
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nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · Sep 7
Question: Why are many people under the impression that Trump and the awful things he’s doing are popular, even though they’re not?

Answer: America is still a mostly free country where dissent against Trump’s dictatorial ambitions is widespread, but media keeps making it appear as if it’s not.
marisakabas.bsky.social
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Sep 6
What the actual fuck.

US Tennis Association: “We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity, including ENG [Electronic News Gathering] coverage.”
U.S. Open Orders Broadcasters to Censor Reactions to Trump
An email obtained by Bounces includes instructions from the U.S. Open on supporting Trump's planned stagecraft during the National Anthem.
www.benrothenberg.com
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Sep 7
Popular youth-led resistance to collusive elite rule is being rejuvenated through mass protest in Indonesia and being strangled through judicial and military repression in Thailand.

Curious then that the dominant narrative is that Indonesia, and not Thailand, is in “crisis.”
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andreasharsono.bsky.social
Andreas Harsono @andreasharsono.bsky.social · Sep 3
Indonesia’s protests over lawmakers’ perks reveal frustration: Three decades after the fall of the Suharto dictatorship, political and economic power remain in the hands of the elite. The protests may have died down but the fury is unlikely to fade www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
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jwassers.bsky.social
Jeff Wasserstrom @jwassers.bsky.social · Jul 23
Notable new piece by @dnsltr.bsky.social‬ just out in @jodemocracy.bsky.social /provides a nuanced though brief sketch of Thailand's turbulent political history--& has astute comments on implications of the Thai story for thinking about global trends www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
Polishing Off Populism in Authoritarian Thailand | Journal of Democracy
Thailand’s current crisis may finally end the cycle of populism and polarization that has crippled its democratic aspirations. But it is also revealing that there are far worse forces undermining Thai...
www.journalofdemocracy.org
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Reposted by Dan Slater
jodemocracy.bsky.social
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · Jul 23
Thailand's current crisis may finally end the cycle of populism and polarization that has crippled the country's democratic aspirations. But it is also revealing that there are far worse forces undermining Thai democracy.

@dnsltr.bsky.social explains: www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
Polishing Off Populism in Authoritarian Thailand | Journal of Democracy
Thailand’s current crisis may finally end the cycle of populism and polarization that has crippled its democratic aspirations. But it is also revealing that there are far worse forces undermining Thai...
www.journalofdemocracy.org
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Reposted by Dan Slater
knatter.bsky.social
Katharina Natter @knatter.bsky.social · Jun 23
Honored to have contributed to this unfortunately timely @apsa.bsky.social Democracy and Autocracy newsletter edited by @rebeccawai.bsky.social with a piece on Immigration Policy as a “Biomarker” for Political Regime Transformation.
📌 Read all contributions here: lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/...
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amonck.bsky.social
Adrian Monck @amonck.bsky.social · Jun 21
🧵 THREAD: A fascinating newsletter looks at Trump’s breakthrough with voters of colour, and it reveals something far more significant than conventional politics – the emergence of a new sort of reactionary coalition that cuts across race lines 👇
dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
The connections between IMMIGRATION and AUTHORITARIANBISM are becoming more obvious and tragic by the day. Our latest issue of Democracy & Autocracy @umichDemocracy tackles these connections head-on, from multiple comparative angles: 1/6

ii.umich.edu/emerging-dem...
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
Immigration and authoritarianism are tightly entangled features of our contemporary political condition. We hope this issue gives you new analytical insights to think about in the difficult days before us. 6/6
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
You can find links to their books with @CambridgeUP and @PrincetonUPress here www.cambridge.org/core/books/u... and here press.princeton.edu/books/hardco.... 5/6
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
Wrapping it all up is an amazing author exchange between @vcharnysh and dynamic duo @tariqthachil and @adam_m_auerbach on their recent books, UPROOTED and MIGRANTS AND MACHINE POLITICS. 4/6
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
@rebeccawai_ serves both as our guest editor and as an expert essay contributor. Also see excellent contributions by @leydydiossa, Alexandra Filindra, and @k_natter. 3/6
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
This new issue draws on the @umichDemocracy public roundtable “Immigration, Authoritarianism, and Democracy” we held in the immediate aftermath of November’s US election. You can watch that event here myumi.ch/5yEEx. 2/6
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Jun 20
The connections between IMMIGRATION and AUTHORITARIANBISM are becoming more obvious and tragic by the day. Our latest issue of Democracy & Autocracy @umichDemocracy tackles these connections head-on, from multiple comparative angles: 1/6

ii.umich.edu/emerging-dem...
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jodemocracy.bsky.social
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · May 5
🔉 NEW! Podcast from @revdem2020.bsky.social featuring @dnsltr.bsky.social on his essay "The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave" from our latest issue!

👂 Listen here: revdem.ceu.edu/2025/05/05/a...
Authoritarian Waves Crashing: Dan Slater Reinterprets the Third Wave of Democratization | Review of Democracy
In the new episode of our monthly special in cooperation with the Journal of Democracy, Dan Slater discusses the authoritarian origins of the third wave of democratization.
revdem.ceu.edu
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jodemocracy.bsky.social
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · Apr 20
💡🧵 3 takeaways from @dnsltr.bsky.social dramatic rethinking of the Third Wave of democratization...

Read "The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave": muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Apr 10
Another year of programming to be proud of @umichDemocracy!

ii.umich.edu/emerging-dem...
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jodemocracy.bsky.social
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · Apr 8
💡🧵 3 takeaways from @dnsltr.bsky.social dramatic rethinking of the Third Wave of democratization...

Read "The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave": muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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Reposted by Dan Slater
brunojnavarro.bsky.social
Bruno J. Navarro @brunojnavarro.bsky.social · Apr 7
“We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’” he wrote. “But there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.”
NY public schools tell Trump administration they won’t comply with DEI order | CNN
New York state officials have told the Trump administration that they will not comply with its demands to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices in public schools, despite the administration’s ...
www.cnn.com
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Apr 5
Mar-CHI-ng! #50501 #HandsOff
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simonhix.bsky.social
Simon Hix @simonhix.bsky.social · Apr 4
Bravo South Korea. This is what proper democracy looks like 👏
on.ft.com/3E7kvI7 South Korea’s president removed from office over martial law bid
South Korea’s president removed from office over martial law bid
Yoon Suk Yeol’s shortlived attempt to impose military rule triggered political crisis
on.ft.com
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Apr 2
What if the 3rd Wave of Democratization (1974-1991) didn't begin with democratization at all?

The only global regime wave of the mid-1970s was a wave of communist, peasant-based revolutions.

By reinterpreting our past we might reimagine our present.

muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
Project MUSE - The Authoritarian Origins of the Third Wave
muse.jhu.edu
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Apr 1
My effort in 2022 to apply the “democratic careening” framework to US politics in the Biden years

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Mar 29
Cancer research hasn’t cured cancer.

Anti-corruption commissions haven’t eliminated corruption.

DEI policies haven’t fixed inequality.

Why? Because they’re tackling some of the thorniest problems humanity faces.

None of these efforts should end.
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dnsltr.bsky.social
Dan Slater @dnsltr.bsky.social · Mar 28
The University of Michigan is now occupied territory.
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