Power, Institutions, and the Limits of Reform | Terry moe | William Bennett Munro Professor of Political Science at Stanford University | Season 12 Episode 15 | #190
Mon Feb 02 2026
In this episode, I speak with Terry Moe about how political power shapes institutions and why bureaucracy plays such a central role in modern democracy. We begin with his work on the rise of the strongman presidency and how public frustration with democratic systems creates openings for leaders who promise simple solutions. From there, we explore how similar dynamics operate inside education, where large-scale systems are often expected to balance efficiency, accountability, and human development all at once.
Much of our conversation focuses on how institutions are actually designed. Terry explains why bureaucracies are not neutral structures, but political creations shaped by competing interests. Using concrete examples from education, we discuss how rules around hiring, layoffs, curriculum, and evaluation often prioritize adult interests over the needs of children. We also unpack why well-intentioned reforms frequently fail, not because people are malicious, but because power determines how policies are implemented and sometimes deliberately undermines them.
Toward the end, we step back to ask what this means for anyone who wants to improve education or public institutions more broadly. Terry argues that understanding bureaucracy is essential if we want reform to succeed, since ignoring power only leads to disappointment. This episode is a sober and illuminating look at how systems really work, why change is so difficult, and why democratic reform requires far more realism than idealism alone.
Chapters :
00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Terry’s path into political science and education policy05:00 – Why bureaucracy is never neutral09:00 – Institutions as products of power and interests13:00 – How democratic systems generate frustration17:00 – Strongman politics and public disillusionment21:00 – Why education systems are so hard to reform25:00 – Adult interests versus student needs29:00 – Rules, incentives, and unintended consequences33:00 – Why good reforms fail in practice37:00 – Unions, politics, and institutional resistance41:00 – Accountability without capacity45:00 – The limits of idealism in policy design49:00 – What real reform would require53:00 – Power, realism, and democratic responsibility
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In this episode, I speak with Terry Moe about how political power shapes institutions and why bureaucracy plays such a central role in modern democracy. We begin with his work on the rise of the strongman presidency and how public frustration with democratic systems creates openings for leaders who promise simple solutions. From there, we explore how similar dynamics operate inside education, where large-scale systems are often expected to balance efficiency, accountability, and human development all at once. Much of our conversation focuses on how institutions are actually designed. Terry explains why bureaucracies are not neutral structures, but political creations shaped by competing interests. Using concrete examples from education, we discuss how rules around hiring, layoffs, curriculum, and evaluation often prioritize adult interests over the needs of children. We also unpack why well-intentioned reforms frequently fail, not because people are malicious, but because power determines how policies are implemented and sometimes deliberately undermines them. Toward the end, we step back to ask what this means for anyone who wants to improve education or public institutions more broadly. Terry argues that understanding bureaucracy is essential if we want reform to succeed, since ignoring power only leads to disappointment. This episode is a sober and illuminating look at how systems really work, why change is so difficult, and why democratic reform requires far more realism than idealism alone. Chapters : 00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Terry’s path into political science and education policy05:00 – Why bureaucracy is never neutral09:00 – Institutions as products of power and interests13:00 – How democratic systems generate frustration17:00 – Strongman politics and public disillusionment21:00 – Why education systems are so hard to reform25:00 – Adult interests versus student needs29:00 – Rules, incentives, and unintended consequences33:00 – Why good reforms fail in practice37:00 – Unions, politics, and institutional resistance41:00 – Accountability without capacity45:00 – The limits of idealism in policy design49:00 – What real reform would require53:00 – Power, realism, and democratic responsibility