How Democracies DieTwo Harvard professors explain the stages in which governments collapse and how we can prevent this Democracies can die with a coup d'etat or they can die slowly. This happens most deceptively when in piecemeal fashion, with the election of an authoritarian leader, the abuse of governmental power and the complete repression of opposition. All three steps are being taken around the world and we must all understand how we can stop them. From the rule of