Why Democracy is Threatened - and How We Can Save It. Democracies die with a bang or with a whimper. The bang, often the violent end of a democracy through a coup, war, or revolution, is more spectacular. However, the slow decline of a democracy, dying with a whimper, is more common—and more dangerous, because citizens usually only wake up when it’s too late. Focusing on the USA, Latin America, and Europe, political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt illustrate how we can recognize the erosion of democratic institutions and processes. They also point out the areas where we can intervene to stop this trend. Because with targeted resistance, democracy can be saved—even from the brink of death.