Best bet: Figuring out what fuels threats to democracy with expert speaker Steven Levitsky

Maybe you’ve heard democracy is at a breaking point .

Maybe you’ve wondered why democracy is faltering in the United States , but not in other wealthy, diverse countries.

Maybe you’ve worried that cultural shifts have triggered a backlash that threatens the United States’ political system.

Steven Levitsky has something to say about all of that.

The Harvard professor and New York Times best-selling author, an expert on democracy and authoritarianism, tackles urgent questions Oct. 17 at the Cape Cod Speaker Series . The event is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at  Cape Cod Community College’s Tilden Arts Center in West Barnstable.

Tickets, available through capecodspeakers.org , are $50 general admission, $20 for high school and college faculty, $10 for students. A $100 VIP ticket includes a reception and the opportunity to meet Levinsky.

With Daniel Ziblatt, Levitsky co-authored the award-winning “How Democracies Die” and “Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point.” The books have been published in 30 languages around the world.

Levitsky, a government professor and director of David Rockefeller Center for Latin Studies at Harvard, has been speaking nationally, including in December in front of 300 people at the Notre Dame Forum.

“Levitsky will highlight important challenges facing our country and call for bold political reform. The United States stands at a pivotal moment,” according to an announcement about the Cape Cod talk.

The session will be moderated by Mindy Todd, managing director of editorial, host and producer of WCAI’s "The Point." Audience questions will be taken during the event’s second-half.

"The Cape Cod Speaker Series, Inc. is a nonprofit formed by Cape Codders interested in bringing national voices and cultural and educational opportunities to the region ... After setting aside funds for future operations, any surplus generated by the Speaker Series will be contributed to Cape Cod Community College to provide financial student aid." according to a written announcement about the event.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Best bet: Figuring out what fuels threats to democracy with expert speaker Steven Levitsky