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The Context: Seven ways anyone can fight authoritarianism

December 29, 2025 · 33 min

Show notes

While Democracy Works is on winter break, we're bringing you an episode from our colleagues at The Context, a podcast from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and a fellow member of The Democracy Group podcast network. Host Alex Lovit looks back at the advice from the show's guests this year about how everyday people can get involved in fighting authoritarianism and encouraging citizen engagement.

You'll hear from:

  • Ece Temelkuran, Turkish writer and author of How To Lose a Country, the Seven Steps From Democracy to Fascism
  • Daniel Hunter, educator with Freedom Trainers and director of Choose Democracy,
  • Deva Woodly, professor of political science at Brown University and nonresident fellow at Kettering
  • Maria Stephan, co-lead and chief organizer at Horizons Project
  • Sharon L. Davies, president and CEO of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation
  • Steven Levitsky, professor of government at Harvard and co-author of How Democracies Die
  • John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice

We hope this episode leaves you feeling inspired about what you can do to strengthen democracy in 2026 and beyond. Thank you to the team at The Context for sharing it with us!


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