Why are some democracies more resilient to democratic backsliding than others?

This article argues that while all democracies are exposed to uncontrollable external shocks—like economic crises, extremist movements, or demagogues—their ability to withstand and recover from these threats hinges not on the nature of those exogenous forces but on the robustness of their constitutional design. By comparing onset and breakdown resilience in the Weimar Republic and the United States, it illustrates how strong judicial checks, electoral systems, rule of law, and separation of powers decisively determine whether democracy endures or collapses.