What happens to a bipartisan democracy, and its media landscape, when one of the two parties turns toward autocracy? This is the drama we are now living through in America.
Growing up in an immediate post WWII social/christian democrat environment in Western Europe, America was naturally seen as the leader and protector of the free Democracy. Around Xmas 2015, when we were visiting friends in East Texas I somehow got drawn into a televised GOP Presidential primary debate......I was shocked what I heard from the candidates, in particular Trump , but even more so from the comments and the support for his extreme views in the audience. Hearing Trump speak for the first time send shivers of fear down my spine......these were the things the generation of my parents and older siblings fought against. I could not believe how people I had known and worked with all over the world for a long time could even think of supporting this. Deep the hatred versus Obama, as a black and a democrat , appeared to be a key driver . I must have had a huge blind spot. I have been following American politics in more details ever since and it continues to make make me even more concerned. Your essay is spot on. Hard work will be required to ensure democracy survives in US (and other countries). Essays like this are essential to succeed.
This today from The Bulwark (one of the few comparatively sane conservative sites I follow :)
"Daniel Ziblatt, in Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy, examined the historical record for lessons on why some countries successfully managed to transition to democracy while others lapsed into authoritarianism. The predominant variable he identified was the posture of conservative parties at critical moments. These parties typically represent status quo interests. When they think they have a shot at securing these interests via democratic means—like the British Tories in the late-nineteenth century—they buy into liberal democracy. When they believe these interests will lose out to the forward march of leftist reform or revolution, they jettison liberal democracy, as happened in Germany and Italy after World War I." 😶
Excellent essay Ruth. What I find most alarming in the change of the Republican Party since Trump, is the stunning political bigotry seen. They have built a wall around themselves to exclude all other thinking. Most of it stems from Trump's perpetuating the charismatic leader/follower relationship, where the leader intentionally polarizes his clan to reject all thought but his own. It created dangerous binary thinking and also created a perceived enemy outside of their tribe. Most of Trump's supporters are living in a proto-fascist fantasy of post-truth and confirmation bias. Nearly all those that I've spoken with, reject that they have become authoritarian.
I certainly agree with your comments, Professor. The United States is still in great danger.
Many of the very people who sat on their hands and remained silent during all Trump's excesses, refused to find fault with the lies, the abuses and damage to our institutions are still in the political arena attempting to normalize antidemocratic behavior, be it in words, voter-suppression bills or faux consensus building. Too many journalists are still taking the bothsiderism approach in their reporting, with the exception of the far-right press like Fox News, of course, where only one distorted world-view exists.
I worry for my country. We are only one election from losing everything. Getting rid of Trump--though extremely important--was but one step forward. Americans dedicated to securing the American experiment for future generations need to make sure the GOP is denied power for the foreseeable future.
I continue to observe this from the outside (Canada) and wonder how close are we to seeing it happen here. Certainly far right thinking can be found here too and without looking too hard. Thanks for helpful analysis.
The country is splintering right before our eyes. There are bills in every state intended to make voting difficult and bills to punish peaceful protest. In Texas Allen West is calling for secession from the Union, otherwise known as "Texit". Ironically, as I paused my TV to write this, there are protests in Russia for a man overtly being tortured to death while the leader draws sadistic pleasure off of international attention being drawn to Nalvany. 1500 protesters have been thrown in prison. In our country, Insurrectionists and Karen's are prioritizing their appeals for vegan diets, trips to Cancun and demands for return to their communities while awaiting trial. I'm so afraid that the egocentrism of mostly white Americans and their apathy and ignorance of international affairs blinds them to lessons unfolding right in front of us. DeSantis, Tucker, Lin Wood, Stephen Miller and DJT (without Twitter) are spinning their privilege and power towards an America descending into authoritarianism. Sure, Biden is the President for this time. I fear the joy of compassion, authenticity, sensibility, equality, racial and social justice and all things Democratic might be short lived with the crush of disinformation and the vulnerability to bad actors perpetuated by DJT and his minions. They're like cicadas (state legislators, white nationalists, racists, right wing conspirators) that have been underground for decades and now throughout the country they've emerged.
Growing up in an immediate post WWII social/christian democrat environment in Western Europe, America was naturally seen as the leader and protector of the free Democracy. Around Xmas 2015, when we were visiting friends in East Texas I somehow got drawn into a televised GOP Presidential primary debate......I was shocked what I heard from the candidates, in particular Trump , but even more so from the comments and the support for his extreme views in the audience. Hearing Trump speak for the first time send shivers of fear down my spine......these were the things the generation of my parents and older siblings fought against. I could not believe how people I had known and worked with all over the world for a long time could even think of supporting this. Deep the hatred versus Obama, as a black and a democrat , appeared to be a key driver . I must have had a huge blind spot. I have been following American politics in more details ever since and it continues to make make me even more concerned. Your essay is spot on. Hard work will be required to ensure democracy survives in US (and other countries). Essays like this are essential to succeed.
This today from The Bulwark (one of the few comparatively sane conservative sites I follow :)
"Daniel Ziblatt, in Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy, examined the historical record for lessons on why some countries successfully managed to transition to democracy while others lapsed into authoritarianism. The predominant variable he identified was the posture of conservative parties at critical moments. These parties typically represent status quo interests. When they think they have a shot at securing these interests via democratic means—like the British Tories in the late-nineteenth century—they buy into liberal democracy. When they believe these interests will lose out to the forward march of leftist reform or revolution, they jettison liberal democracy, as happened in Germany and Italy after World War I." 😶
"Heeding the Lessons of Weimar"
https://thebulwark.com/heeding-the-lessons-of-weimar/
Excellent essay Ruth. What I find most alarming in the change of the Republican Party since Trump, is the stunning political bigotry seen. They have built a wall around themselves to exclude all other thinking. Most of it stems from Trump's perpetuating the charismatic leader/follower relationship, where the leader intentionally polarizes his clan to reject all thought but his own. It created dangerous binary thinking and also created a perceived enemy outside of their tribe. Most of Trump's supporters are living in a proto-fascist fantasy of post-truth and confirmation bias. Nearly all those that I've spoken with, reject that they have become authoritarian.
I certainly agree with your comments, Professor. The United States is still in great danger.
Many of the very people who sat on their hands and remained silent during all Trump's excesses, refused to find fault with the lies, the abuses and damage to our institutions are still in the political arena attempting to normalize antidemocratic behavior, be it in words, voter-suppression bills or faux consensus building. Too many journalists are still taking the bothsiderism approach in their reporting, with the exception of the far-right press like Fox News, of course, where only one distorted world-view exists.
I worry for my country. We are only one election from losing everything. Getting rid of Trump--though extremely important--was but one step forward. Americans dedicated to securing the American experiment for future generations need to make sure the GOP is denied power for the foreseeable future.
Otherwise? All bets are off.
I continue to observe this from the outside (Canada) and wonder how close are we to seeing it happen here. Certainly far right thinking can be found here too and without looking too hard. Thanks for helpful analysis.
The country is splintering right before our eyes. There are bills in every state intended to make voting difficult and bills to punish peaceful protest. In Texas Allen West is calling for secession from the Union, otherwise known as "Texit". Ironically, as I paused my TV to write this, there are protests in Russia for a man overtly being tortured to death while the leader draws sadistic pleasure off of international attention being drawn to Nalvany. 1500 protesters have been thrown in prison. In our country, Insurrectionists and Karen's are prioritizing their appeals for vegan diets, trips to Cancun and demands for return to their communities while awaiting trial. I'm so afraid that the egocentrism of mostly white Americans and their apathy and ignorance of international affairs blinds them to lessons unfolding right in front of us. DeSantis, Tucker, Lin Wood, Stephen Miller and DJT (without Twitter) are spinning their privilege and power towards an America descending into authoritarianism. Sure, Biden is the President for this time. I fear the joy of compassion, authenticity, sensibility, equality, racial and social justice and all things Democratic might be short lived with the crush of disinformation and the vulnerability to bad actors perpetuated by DJT and his minions. They're like cicadas (state legislators, white nationalists, racists, right wing conspirators) that have been underground for decades and now throughout the country they've emerged.