The Future of Our Former Democracy

In this episode, Heather and Colin walk through how Hitler and the Nazi Party executed their plan to dismantle Germany democracy and, often under-examined, how German democracy was rebuilt after World War II. Most importantly, they explore electoral system design decisions made to prevent a party like the Nazis from ever coming to power again, including the 5% threshold and the so-called "firewall against the far-right" — in German, "die Brandmauer."

Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:  

Timothy Ryback, The Atlantic

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Martin Lange, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tour with a Berliner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jonny Pechstein⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Geschichte für Alle⁠

Dr. Berit Ebert, Bard College Berlin

⁠⁠Professor Thomas Gschwend⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠University of Mannheim⁠

⁠⁠⁠Nicola Hieke⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism)

Brendan MacGurk, Tour Guide (to arrange a private tour, email inquiries to bmacgurk(at)web(dot)de)

Professor Doctor Magnus Brechtken, ⁠Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History⁠

By Timothy Ryback:

The Atlantic: ⁠How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days⁠

The Atlantic: ⁠The Oligarchs Who Came to Regret Supporting Hitler⁠

Timothy's forthcoming book: 53 Days: How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy, The Atlantic Monthly Press, publishing September 2026.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Music and archival references⁠⁠⁠⁠  

For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/⁠⁠⁠

For more information on Larj Media, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.larjmedia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Many people know that the Nazis came to power in 1933 under Germany's democratic system, but fewer people know how they got there in the first place. In this episode, Colin and Heather explore the economic and social conditions that led to the birth of Germany's first democracy — and why it quickly came crashing to an end.

Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:  

Brendan MacGurk, Tour Guide (to arrange a private tour, email inquiries to bmacgurk(at)web(dot)de)

Hermann "Bobby" Grampp, ⁠Berlin-based historian and music critic⁠

⁠⁠⁠Martin Lange, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tour with a Berliner⁠⁠⁠

Dr. Finn Ballard, ⁠Finn Ballard Tours⁠

⁠Nicola Hieke⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus⁠⁠ (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism)

Excerpt from the 1998 Broadway revival of "Cabaret"

⁠⁠⁠Music and archival references⁠⁠⁠  

For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/⁠⁠

For more information on Larj Media, please visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.larjmedia.com/⁠⁠⁠

While the United States slips deeper into authoritarianism, Heather Villanueva and Colin Cole from More Equitable Democracy explore how Germany redesigned their elections after World War II to prevent another fascist takeover. As we prepare to rise to our own challenge, how can the U.S. learn from the mistakes and course-corrections of another nation that's been where we are now?

Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:  

Nicola Hieke, Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism)

Martin Lange, ⁠⁠Tour with a Berliner

Professor Thomas Gschwend, ⁠⁠University of Mannheim

Jonny Pechstein, Geschichte für Alle

Brendan MacGurk, Tour Guide (to arrange a private tour, email inquiries to bmacgurk(at)web(dot)de)

⁠Music and archival references⁠  

For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: ⁠https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/

For more information on Larj Media, please visit: ⁠https://www.larjmedia.com/⁠

After the end of World War II, Germany adopted a new electoral system designed to prevent a faction like the Nazis from taking over government ever again. In our new season, we compare how far-right movements operate in modern-day Germany and the United States to explore hard-learned lessons from German political history and what they might mean for democracy in the U.S..

In this bonus episode of 'The Future of Our Former Democracy,' we’re sharing our extended conversation with poet, theologian, and conflict mediator, Pádraig Ó Tuama.  
 
Transcript 
 
For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/  
  
For more information on Larj Media, please visit:   
https://www.larjmedia.com/