U.S. Slipping Towards Authoritarianism: Experts' Perspective
America edging closer to autocratic rule - assessing the degree of shift
From criticizing the U.S. as a shadow of its former democratic self to questioning the state of its political system, experts are raising alarm bells. The first few months under President Trump have been a cause for concern, with many viewing the country as heading in the wrong direction. But just how far is the U.S. sliding towards authoritarianism? Let's take a closer look.
Informal, straightforward, approachable, yet alerting - that's the tone as we delve into the current political climate under Trump. The declining state of democracy is a point of agreement amongst researchers and analysts alike. Harsher criticism is leveled at the President, accused of jeopardizing democratic norms.
Sabotaging Democracy
From attacking the separation of powers and the executive branch to tampering with freedom of speech and the press, the President has made his mark. Trump has left an indelible stamp on various democratic institutions, weakening them in the process. Read more about each area affected.
Ending Internal Checks
Agencies under the Trump administration have witnessed a significant shift as internal anti-corruption controls have been abandoned and active equal opportunity measures halted. The ideology behind this? Alleged racism against whites. Efforts are underway to implement similar changes in schools and universities. The only limit on the President's power seems to be the Supreme Court, already dominated by conservatives.
Between Democratic and Autocratic
Scan the pulse of the public, and you'll find widespread criticism towards the changes in the political system. A regular survey reveals a significant drop in the evaluation of the U.S. political system since Trump took office. From 67 on a scale of 0 for pure dictatorship to 100 for a perfect democracy, the score has fallen to 49 after Trump's first 100 days. This is the lowest value since the survey started in 2017. Even during Trump's first term and after the January 6, 2021 coup attempt, the score never dipped below 60.
Scoring the U.S. on the Autocracy Scale
Researchers use 30 indicators to gauge the political system's health. These include interference in press matters, political opponent punishment, and limits on government power set by Congress and the judiciary. According to these indicators, the U.S. finds itself closer to a dictatorship than its neighbor Mexico but still further away than Hungary.
Ditching the Democracy Badge
The U.S. is no longer the beacon of democracy, leader of the free world, or defender of human rights that we once knew. Instead, it has become a country whose government under Trump undermines its political system.
Politics, Congress, the Courts, Education - Trump has chiseled away at each of these foundations of the democratic system. Is the U.S. already an autocracy? That question remains open-ended, but experts tend to agree - the U.S. is sliding towards that direction.
To get the full picture, click here for an in-depth analysis of individual areas affected.
- The European Union, given its democratic roots, might want to take note of the U.S.'s slide towards authoritarianism, as such a trend could potentially impact policy-and-legislation and general-news discussions.
- What'sApp groups focused on war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and accidents might see an increase in posts about the U.S., as the country's political instability could lead to more incidents.
- car-accidents and fires, for instance, could potentially rise due to the relaxation of safety regulations and increased political unrest under the current administration.
- In fact, the changes in the U.S. political system under Trump are so significant that the country's score on the autocracy scale has likely dropped below 60, moving it closer to a dictatorship-like regime.
- H2 policy-makers in the EU could consider enabling measures to counter such trends, such as implementing stricter checks on anti-corruption controls and promoting equal opportunity in education, to strengthen democratic institutions and prevent a similar slide towards autocracy.
- In light of the U.S.'s declining democracy, it's important to emphasize the importance of freedom of speech and the press, as these are essential elements that ensure transparency and accountability in democratic societies.
- It's crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the threats to democracy, not just in the U.S., but also in the European Union and beyond.
