Richard Ned Lebow is the author of fifty books on international relations, comparative politics, political theory, history, classics, and philosophy of science. He has also recently published his first novel and a book of short stories. Lebow is a fellow of the British Academy and the recipient of many book awards and honorary degrees. Ludvig Norman studies European politics, democratic theory, and social science methodology. He is the author of the book The Mechanisms of Institutional Conflict in the European Union (2016) and recent articles in Journal of Common Market Studies, Political Studies, European Journal of International Relations, European Journal of Social Theory, and Cooperation and Conflict.

'This timely volume examines the political robustness and fragility of political orders, which has become a pressing issue today. By focusing on the role of leaders at the domestic, regional, and international levels of analysis, this book provides a wealth of historical insights for understanding our present situation.' Brian C. Schmidt, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

• 1. Introduction Richard Ned Lebow and Ludvig Norman; 2. Robustness and fragility of political orders Richard Ned Lebow; 3. End of democracy or recurrent conflict: minimalist democracy, legitimacy crisis, and political equality Peter Breiner; 4. Politics and the administrative state: perceptions of stability and fragility in Weimar Germany Paul Petzschmann; 5. Roots in common: the fragility-robustness of democratic and ecological regimes Andrew Lawrence; 6. The end of communist rule in Europe: a comparative perspective on the fragility and robustness of regimes Archie Brown; 7. Democracy's fragility and the European political order: functionalism, militant democracy, and crisis Ludvig Norman; 8. The American Fragility-Robustness Nexus Ariane Chebel d'Appollonia; 9. The perils of choice: structure and agency in EU crisis management Douglas Webber; 10. Conclusion Richard Ned Lebow and Ludvig Norman.

Richard Ned Lebow is the author of fifty books on international relations, comparative politics, political theory, history, classics, and philosophy of science. He has also recently published his first novel and a book of short stories. Lebow is a fellow of the British Academy and the recipient of many book awards and honorary degrees. Ludvig Norman studies European politics, democratic theory, and social science methodology. He is the author of the book The Mechanisms of Institutional Conflict in the European Union (2016) and recent articles in Journal of Common Market Studies, Political Studies, European Journal of International Relations, European Journal of Social Theory, and Cooperation and Conflict.

'This timely volume examines the political robustness and fragility of political orders, which has become a pressing issue today. By focusing on the role of leaders at the domestic, regional, and international levels of analysis, this book provides a wealth of historical insights for understanding our present situation.' Brian C. Schmidt, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

• 1. Introduction Richard Ned Lebow and Ludvig Norman; 2. Robustness and fragility of political orders Richard Ned Lebow; 3. End of democracy or recurrent conflict: minimalist democracy, legitimacy crisis, and political equality Peter Breiner; 4. Politics and the administrative state: perceptions of stability and fragility in Weimar Germany Paul Petzschmann; 5. Roots in common: the fragility-robustness of democratic and ecological regimes Andrew Lawrence; 6. The end of communist rule in Europe: a comparative perspective on the fragility and robustness of regimes Archie Brown; 7. Democracy's fragility and the European political order: functionalism, militant democracy, and crisis Ludvig Norman; 8. The American Fragility-Robustness Nexus Ariane Chebel d'Appollonia; 9. The perils of choice: structure and agency in EU crisis management Douglas Webber; 10. Conclusion Richard Ned Lebow and Ludvig Norman.