Slipping Towards Authoritarianism: A Chilling Analysis of the USA's Current State
Slide in the direction of autocratic rule: Quantifying the U.S.'s progression towards authoritarianism.
Ready to dive into the nitty-gritty of the USA's political landscape these days? Buckle up! It's becoming increasingly clear that the United States, once the world's beacon of democracy, may be sliding towards authoritarianism. Whether this trend is irreversible or not, that's the million-dollar question.
President Donald Trump's term has been under heavy scrutiny. The analysis is unanimous - the USA's political system is in peril. Trump's relentless attacks on the democratic system can be compared to a wrecking ball, corroding the separation of powers, the rule of law, freedom of speech, and even education. If you're scratching your head, trying to make sense of it all, let's break it down for you.
We're Apparently an Authoritarian System, but in a More Complicated Way
Researchers agree that the USA is on a slippery slope towards authoritarianism. But unlike the brutal dictatorships we often see on the news or read about, the USA is moving towards a competitive authoritarianism, also known as competitive autocracy. The system allows for elections and the preservation of some democratic institutions, but it's all a game meant to keep the ruling elites in power.
Think about it like this: take Hungary under Viktor Orbán or Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They have elections and, as far as appearances are concerned, democracy still stands. However, the power dynamics are skewed, favoring those in charge, to the point where they can manipulate outcomes, silence opposition, and crush dissent. Sounds eerily similar, doesn't it?
Lessons from History and Some Scary Footprints
Back in February 2017, just a couple of weeks into Trump's presidency, historian Timothy Snyder had already warned that this was not just a change in leadership but a full-blown coup. He pointed towards Elon Musk, who had gained access to government agencies and ministries in what came to be known as the "Ministry of Government Efficiency." Snyder argued that Musk, with no elected position and no rights to the authority he wielded, was undermining the democratic processes, violating human rights, and posing a real threat.
Courts have managed to halt or restrict some of the administration's questionable measures. Yet, the changes that were implemented during the initial period, the "big lines," as researchers call it, are likely to endure throughout Trump's presidency. It's like new tech bros were given the keys to our democratic house for a few months, changing the operating system and installing updates without fully understanding what they were doing, or without considering the potential consequences.
We're Transitioning, but How Far Are We?
The political pulse of the USA is being measured regularly through surveys, and the results are alarming. The country's score has dropped from 67 to 49 on a scale of 0 for a totalitarian regime to 100 for a perfect democracy, following Donald Trump's first 100 days in office - the lowest score since the survey's inception in 2017.
Researchers use 30 indicators in their assessment, evaluating factors like media interference, political repressions, and the strength of the legislative and judicial branches. As it turns out, the USA is closer to a dictatorship than its neighboring country of Mexico, but still farther away than Hungary.
Final Thoughts: Democracy, Money, and Power
It's clear that the USA is far from a perfect democratic system, with serious issues such as voter suppression remaining unaddressed. Yet, unlimited corporate and billionaire campaign financing over the last 15 years, combined with the Supreme Court's decision on immunity, has made Trump's vast power and corruption possible.
The question is how deep the damage goes and whether this transformation is reversible. Trump is deliberately stirring fear and changing the rules of the game to advantage himself and the Republicans, weakening the system from within. Whether the USA will remain teetering on the edge of authoritarianism or continue its slide remains to be seen, depending largely on the actions of future presidents and leaders committed to upholding democratic values. Will we see a restoration of balance, or will the dark force continue its reign? Only time will tell.
References:
- Scheppele, K.L. (2017) Trump's executive orders and the American constitutional crisis. Verfassungsblog.
- Levitsky, S., Ziblatt, D. (2018) How Democracies Die. Crown, NY.
- Liliana B. Rojas-Suárez, Guillermo Trejo (2021) The United States: A Speedy Autocratization?, Journal of Democracy, April 2021.
- Snyder, T. (2017) On Tyranny. Tim Duggan Books, NY.
- The European Union might view the USA's current political landscape as a worrying sign of competitive authoritarianism, similar to that observed in countries like Hungary and Turkey.
- Although WhatsApp might not be directly related to the issue at hand, the unchecked power of big tech bros like Elon Musk, given access to government agencies and ministries, raises concerns about potential manipulation and violations of democratic processes, as warned by historian Timothy Snyder.
- The slide towards authoritarianism in the USA could have significant implications for war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as the weakening of democratic values could impact decision-making and rule-of-law within these domains.
- The decline in the USA's democratic score, from 67 to 49, since Donald Trump's first 100 days in office suggests a transition towards a system that is closer to a dictatorship than its neighboring country Mexico, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of democratic values and practices.
- The degree to which the USA has transitioned towards authoritarianism could depend on future presidents and leaders who are committed to upholding democratic values, as well as addressing underlying issues such as unlimited corporate and billionaire campaign financing, which has contributed to the current state of politics in the USA.
