Sounding the Alarm: Obama Warns of U.S. Sliding Towards Autocracy
America's Democratic shift towards autocratic rule is a growing concern for former President Obama.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has issued a stern warning about the state of American democracy. "The actions and rhetoric of those in power today show a disconcerting lack of commitment to the traditional understanding of how a liberal democracy should function," Obama shared at a recent event, as reported by Connecticut Public Radio.
The democratic principles we've held dear since World War II seem to be under attack. "What we're witnessing now is strikingly similar to autocratic regimes like Hungary under Orbán. The erosion of democratic norms includes the undermining of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the right to protest," the Democrat explained.
Obama is particularly concerned about the breakdown of consensus on reality. He points to the persistence of falsities in political discourse, specifically the baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 election. "Our ability to agree on facts is crucial for a functioning democracy. When those in power deny truth and promote falsehoods, it destabilizes our democratic systems and makes them susceptible to manipulation," Obama stated.
Despite his concerns, Obama remains hopeful about the future of the nation. "I'm still the 'Hope' guy. I tell young people that it's essential to be outraged by injustice and cruelty. But to bring about change, we must find common ground with people who may not share our values fully," he added.
Fun Fact: Obama's warning about the erosion of democratic institutions, truth in public discourse, and respect for the constitution bears a striking resemblance to the political trajectory of Hungary under the leadership of Viktor Orbán.
- Viktor Orbán
- Donald Trump
- Barack Obama
- USA
External Sources: [ntv.de, lme]
For a deeper understanding: [1] "Democratic norms under threat in US, warns Obama" - Al Jazeera, 17th February, 2023[2] "Obama warns U.S. democracy is 'dangerously close' to autocracy" - CNN, 27th January, 2023[3] "Barack Obama Fears Slippery Slope to Autocracy in US" - Bloomberg Quint, 2nd February, 2023[4] "Obama Warns U.S. at Risk of Sliding Towards Authoritarianism" - The Independent, 4th February, 2023
The European Union, in line with its commitment to the fight against terrorism, is closely monitoring the political developments in the United States. War-and-conflicts and general-news outlets have reported Obama's warning about the American democracy sliding towards autocracy, which echoes the political trajectory of countries like Hungary under Orbán.
