![[Democracy Resources 01.png]] ## Books Learn how democracies unravel and the many faces of tyranny—authoritarianism, fascism, and oligarchy. Discover the warning signs, the tactics used to erode freedom, and most importantly, how ordinary people like you have resisted and defended democracy throughout history. Here is a table summarizing the most important books on the risk of losing American democracy. We recommend starting with *On Tyranny*—a concise and urgent guide to recognizing and resisting authoritarianism. From there, follow your interests to explore the historical patterns, structural weaknesses, and modern threats that make democratic decline not just possible, but an unfolding reality. These books make a compelling case: it *can* happen here, and in many ways, it *is* happening here. | **Book Title** | **Author** | **Year** | **Key Idea** | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ***How Democracies Die*** | Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt | 2018 | Democracies erode gradually, not through coups but by weakening institutions and norms. | | ***On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century*** | Timothy Snyder | 2017 | Citizens must actively resist authoritarianism by recognizing propaganda, standing up for institutions, and defending democratic norms. | | ***The Road to Unfreedom*** | Timothy Snyder | 2018 | Disinformation, nationalism, and post-truth politics undermine democracy. | | ***Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism*** | Anne Applebaum | 2020 | Elites often enable authoritarianism for personal power and gain. | | ***Fascism: A Warning*** | Madeleine Albright | 2018 | Fascist tactics—scapegoating, nationalism, and undermining institutions—are resurfacing today. | | ***Why We’re Polarized*** | Ezra Klein | 2020 | Political identity has become deeply personal, making polarization and division harder to reverse. | | ***The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It*** | Yascha Mounk | 2018 | Economic inequality and technological disruption fuel democratic decline. | | ***The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump*** | Michiko Kakutani | 2018 | A democracy cannot function when citizens no longer share a common reality. | | ***Let Them Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality*** | Jacob Hacker & Paul Pierson | 2020 | Economic elites exploit cultural division to maintain power and weaken democracy. | | ***Surviving Autocracy*** | Masha Gessen | 2020 | Democracies rot from within when norms break down and institutions are co-opted. | --- ## Organizations Defending Democracy Are you ready to take action now? Here’s a list of key opposition groups actively working to protect democracy in the U.S. by countering efforts to undermine free and fair elections, government accountability, voting rights, and democratic institutions: ### Voting Rights & Election Protection - **[Brennan Center for Justice](https://www.brennancenter.org/)** – A leading nonpartisan organization defending voting rights, fair elections, and checks on executive power. - **[Common Cause](https://www.commoncause.org/)** – A grassroots organization fighting for democratic reforms, voting rights, and government accountability. - **[League of Women Voters](https://www.lwv.org/)** – A nonpartisan group that educates and mobilizes voters while fighting voter suppression laws. - **[Fair Fight Action](https://fairfight.com/)** – Founded by Stacey Abrams, this group combats voter suppression and promotes fair elections. ### Government Accountability & Anti-Corruption - **[Demand Democracy – Transparency International](https://www.transparency.org/)** – A global organization fighting corruption and promoting government transparency. - **[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)](https://www.citizensforethics.org/)** – Investigates corruption, unethical behavior, and abuses of power in government. - **[Project on Government Oversight (POGO)](https://www.pogo.org/)** – A watchdog group exposing government waste, corruption, and abuses of power. - **[OpenSecrets](https://www.opensecrets.org/)** – Tracks money in politics and exposes the influence of dark money on elections and policymaking. ### Fighting Disinformation & Extremism - **[Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)](https://www.splcenter.org/)** – Monitors and exposes hate groups and extremist movements that threaten democracy. - **[Media Matters for America](https://www.mediamatters.org/)** – Tracks and debunks right-wing disinformation campaigns that undermine democracy. - **[Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD)](https://www.isdglobal.org/)** – Analyzes online extremism and disinformation campaigns threatening democratic institutions. - **[The Lincoln Project](https://lincolnproject.us/)** – A group of former Republican strategists opposing authoritarianism and Trumpist extremism. ### Legal Defense & Civil Rights - **[American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)](https://www.aclu.org/)** – Defends constitutional rights, voting rights, and civil liberties in court. - **[Protect Democracy](https://protectdemocracy.org/)** – A nonpartisan organization fighting authoritarian threats and democratic backsliding. - **[Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law](https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/)** – Provides legal support to combat voter suppression and defend civil rights. - **[Campaign Legal Center](https://campaignlegal.org/)** – Fights for fair elections, voting rights, and ethical campaign practices. ### Pro-Democracy Advocacy & Policy Reform - **[Democracy Resource Hub](https://www.democracyresourcehub.org/)** – Offers tools and strategies for strengthening democratic governance. - **[Indivisible](https://indivisible.org/)** – A grassroots movement resisting authoritarian policies and mobilizing voters to support democracy. - **[Stand Up America](https://standupamerica.com/)** – Organizes civic action against voter suppression, corruption, and authoritarian policies. - **[Reclaim the American Dream](https://www.reclaimtheamericandream.org/)** – Works on democracy reforms like voting rights and campaign finance reform. - **[Workers Circle – Demand Democracy, Fight Fascism](https://circle.org/)** – Combats rising authoritarianism, voter suppression, and extremism through grassroots activism, advocacy, and educational initiatives.