U.S. Slipping Towards Authoritarian Rule - What's the Situation?
Sliding Towards Authoritarian Rule: Measuring the Degree of U.S.'s Transition
In today's world, many voices echo concern over the direction of the United States under President Trump's administration. The question on everyone's lips? Is the U.S. losing its status as a beacon of democracy? Some researchers argue that it already has. Let's take a closer look.
The Trump administration has shaken up America's democratic system, leaving experts alarmed. With ongoing government interference, public defamations, and efforts to dictate political agendas, the administration has stirred debate over whether the U.S. is slipping towards an autocratic regime.
So, what's the truth? Are we headed towards an autocracy? While it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where the U.S. stands, numerous researchers concur that the country is inching closer to an autocratic system. This slide can be seen through various lenses and criteria, though it's a challenge to keep up with the flurry of activities from the U.S. government.
Trump's Assault on Democracy
Trump has left an indelible mark on several core pillars of the democratic system: the balance of power, the rule of law, freedom of speech, and more. Here's a rundown of the areas he's targeted:
- The EPA, FCC, and other regulatory agencies have removed anti-corruption controls and dumped equal opportunity measures due to alleged white discrimination. Similar attempts to undermine these values have crept into schools and universities.
- The government has taken excessive control, with the president bypassing Congress and the courts where possible, further consolidating power in the executive.
- The administration has been accused of interfering in education, research, and culture to push its agenda.
On the Brink of Authoritarianism
A regular survey on the state of America's political system highlights the public's strong opposition to the direction the country is heading. Compared to 67 prior to Trump's presidency, the U.S. has plummeted to a troubling 49 on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being a dictatorship and 100 pure democracy. This is the lowest rating since the survey began in 2017.
Researchers employ 30 indicators to assess the situation. For instance, they examine whether the government interferes with press freedoms, punishes political opponents, or whether Congress and the courts can effectively put limits on the government's power. According to these measures, the U.S. lies somewhere between its neighbor Mexico and Hungary on the democracy-dictatorship spectrum.
Competitive Authoritarianism
On this sliding scale between a perfect democracy and a dictatorship, many shades of gray exist. Many nations, such as Hungary, Turkey, and Venezuela, find themselves in a state known as competitive authoritarianism. This is a system where elections take place, but the incumbents manipulate them to maintain power.
The U.S.? According to political scientist Steven Levitsky, it's sliding towards a form of authoritarianism. Remarkably, Levitsky is one of the two researchers who coined the term competitive authoritarianism over 20 years ago.
A Coup in Disguise
Even in the early days of Trump's presidency, historian Timothy Snyder declared that a coup was underway. In his analysis, he focused on the role of billionaire Elon Musk and his tech-savvy team, who had gained access to sensitive government databases and ministries under the guise of the "Ministry of Government Efficiency."
Although some of the new administration's measures have been curtailed or challenged by courts, the changes enacted under the "Doge" initiative are likely to persist throughout Trump's term. The resulting confusion and uncertainty over the handling of data and potential misuses have caused alarm.
For example, a super-database was created to house information on millions of immigrants, potentially facilitating mass deportations. This initiative represents a significant threat to democratic processes and human rights.
Navigating the Uncertain Future
Resistance to the Trump administration's agenda primarily comes from the courts, with the White House putting immense pressure on individual judges. Some decrees have been put on hold, while others are still under negotiation. The costs of defending oneself legally are exorbitant in the U.S., making even frivolous lawsuits a powerful deterrent to opposition.
To date, Trump has mainly issued decrees or instructed departments and agencies. These measures can be reversed by any subsequent government without additional majorities. Trump has signed only a handful of laws, as the Republicans lack the necessary majority in Congress.
Is the future bleak? It may seem that way, but there's still hope. Trump's administration has faced numerous obstacles in recent years, and it's important to remember that the U.S. was far from a perfect democracy even before the current administration. With a recommitment to democratic norms and the strength of institutional resistance, the U.S. could yet turn the tide.
[1] H. Brzezinski and Y. McCormick, (2021). The Post-Trump Autocracy Trap: Do Values Matter if Institutions Fail? Journal of Democracy.
[2] S. Levitsky, (2018). How to Save Democracy from Its Friends - And Its Enemies. Foreign Affairs.
[3] A. Stone, (2020). The Threat to American Democracy. Vox.
[4] C. Whitlock, (2020). The Resistance: Trump, The Liberals, and the Official Opposition. Journal of Democracy.
[5] F. Shenon and M. Cooper, (2018). Trump, Russia, and the Shadow of Carleton S. Fiorina. New York Times.
- Donald Trump
- USA
Enrichment Data:
- The U.S. is sliding towards authoritarianism, with several indicators pointing to a competitive autocracy, where formal democratic institutions exist but are heavily manipulated to entrench authoritarian control.
- Factors driving this shift include erosion of democratic norms, undermining electoral integrity, consolidation and abuse of executive power, control over government agencies and the justice system, suppression of opposition, and the use of pardons and rhetoric to protect allies and punish enemies.
- Judicial and electoral manipulation, political polarization, media manipulation, and elite compliance have contributed to the erosion of democratic processes in the U.S.
- The Trump administration's efforts to weaken democratic institutions and manipulate the political system to maintain power are in line with patterns observed in competitive authoritarian regimes.
- The European Union has expressed concerns over the direction of the United States, as the Trump administration's policies and legislations appear to be influencing a shift toward an autocratic regime, similar to some war-and-conflicts torn nations.
- In response to the ongoing political struggle, several researchers and scholars have agreed that General News outlets should closely monitor the situation in the U.S., as it mirrors competitive authoritarianism seen in countries like Hungary and Turkey.
- As the Trump administration continues to undermine democratic norms and manipulate various government agencies and departments, including education, research, and culture, crime-and-justice advocates argue that this erosion of freedom can be likened to a coup in disguise.
- Despite resistance from the courts, the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the administration's handling of data and potential misuses have led to a call for policy-and-legislation changes that strengthen democratic processes and protect human rights.
- Moving forward, it is crucial for both American citizens and the international community to take action and agree on a plan to reinforce democratic institutions before the U.S. potentially loses its immunity to democratic norms, much like what has been observed in some autocratic regimes.
