Checks and balances Quote by Steven Levitsky
““Two basic norms have preserved America’s checks and balances in ways we have come to take for granted: mutual toleration, or the understanding that competing parties accept one another as legitimate rivals, and forbearance, or the idea that politicians should exercise restraint in deploying their institutional prerogatives.””
About This Quote
Source Book: How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, 2018
The stability of a democracy depends on parties treating each other as legitimate opponents and restraining their use of power.
In simple terms: Democracy needs mutual respect and restraint.
Key Takeaway
Foster political civility and institutional restraint.
Themes
politics
democracy
institutional design
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
political
theoretical
When to use this quote
- elections
- legislative negotiations
- judicial appointments
- executive decisions
Key Concepts
mutual toleration
forbearance
checks and balances
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens encourage mutual toleration?
- What mechanisms can enforce forbearance?
A Different Perspective
If parties abandon tolerance, polarization can erode institutions.
