New Republic: Optimism Spells Democracy’s Decline

New Republic: Optimism Spells Democracy’s Decline – NPR, May 31, 2011
…In country after country, a familiar pattern has repeated itself: The middle class has indeed reacted negatively to populist leaders who appeared to be sliding into authoritarianism; but rather than work to defeat these leaders at the ballot box or strengthen the institutions that could hold them in check, they have ended up supporting military coups or other undemocratic measures…