A Hard-hitting Look: The US's Transition Towards Authoritarian Rule - Just How Far?
U.S. edging closer to authoritarian rule - how extreme could it go?
When it comes to US President Trump's first months in office, the general consensus among scholars is alarming. The nation is no longer the beacon of democracy, the leader of the free world, or the defender of human rights. Instead, the US government, under Trump's leadership, is sabotaging and undermining its own political system. This article looks at the signs that the US is inching closer to an autocracy and sheds light on whether there's a way back.
The US: A Crippled Demokratia
Everywhere you turn, the response is clear: the US is no longer the democratic powerhouse it once was. Trump, with his autocratic decrees, public defamations, and threats to enforce his political goals and beliefs, is steadily pushing the US in the direction of autocracy.
But are we already living in an autocratic state? Many scholars agree: The US is sliding in that direction. However, reaching a definitive conclusion can be challenging due to the sheer volume of actions coming from the US government. Nevertheless, the early momentum of the first months has slowed down, and the big lines are becoming more clear.
Wrecking Balls in Democracy
Trump has struck at the very pillars of the democratic system like a wrecking ball: Separation of powers and executive control, equality before the law, freedom of speech and free press, and even education and culture. To dive deeper into the individual areas, click here.
In the agencies, Trump and his allies have ended internal anti-corruption controls and abolished active equal opportunity measures due to alleged racism against whites. Schools and universities are also feeling the brunt of this authoritarian shift. The only definitive limit, it seems, is the rulings of the Supreme Court, which is already dominated by conservatives. Apart from that, Trump claims maximum power in the executive.
Mexico vs Hungary - A Close Race
In a regular survey on the state of the political system in the US, the public and more than 700 scientists view the situation extremely critically. The US scored 49 on a scale of 0 for pure dictatorship to 100 for a perfect democracy after Trump's first 100 days, which marks the lowest value since the start of the survey in 2017. Even during Trump's first term and after the coup attempt on January 6, 2021, the value did not fall below 60.
On the scale between a perfect democracy and a pure dictatorship, the US is closer to a dictatorship than the neighboring country of Mexico, but still further away than Hungary. For a more detailed analysis, you can examine the 30 indicators scholars use for their assessment.
The Slippery Slope of Competitive Autocracy
The US is sliding towards a form of authoritarianism, according to political scientist Steven Levitsky, who first described the concept of competitive autocracy over 20 years ago. In the world of competitive autocracy, elections do take place, and democratic institutions continue to exist, but incumbents like Trump misuse them to stay in power. Other examples include Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
A Coup in the Making
Historian Timothy Snyder declared "of course it's a coup" as early as February 2017, just over two weeks into Trump's presidency. In his analysis, he discussed the role billionaire Elon Musk played, alongside his employees, who gained access to US ministries and sensitive databases. Although Musk's measures have been restricted by courts, some of the changes already made during Trump's presidency will likely persist.
So, is it all doom and gloom? It could be. Trump is openly trying to scare his political opponents and change the political system so that he and potential successors will find it easier to win elections and keep the Republicans in power. This is a stark reminder of the dangers of an autocratic regime. Whether the US will remain on this trajectory or find its way back to democracy depends on the goodwill of future presidents in the White House. Will they prioritize the separation of powers, free press, education and research, and equal rights for all, or will they continue on the path towards autocracy?
[1] CNN: The Road to Authoritarianism
[2] Brookings Institution: Democracy and Democratic Backsliding
[3] The Atlantic: Autocracy and the Assault on Democracy
[4] The New Yorker: Trump's Attacks on Higher Education
- The European Union is closely monitoring the developments in the US, as the transition towards authoritarian rule raises concerns.
- If the US continues down this path, it might enable other autocracies around the world, setting a dangerous precedent.
- Scholars are likely discussing strategies to counteract the authoritarian tendencies in US politics.
- Whatsapp groups dedicated to education-and-self-development and personal-growth discussions could potentially be used to disseminate information about these strategies.
- War-and-conflicts often thrive under autocracies, making it crucial for career-development-focused individuals to be aware of the implications of this shift in the US.
- Policy-and-legislation changes addressing issues like car-accidents, crime-and-justice, and accidents, fires, and skills-training might be impacted by the autocratic regime in the US.
- In the world of sports, football and American football, such as the NFL and NCAA Football, could be affected by the shift in politics, potentially including sports-betting regulations.
- Amidst all this, general-news platforms are crucial for staying informed about the current state of affairs in the US, especially concerning the issues of human rights and democracy.
- Protests against authoritarian rule are quite common in democratic societies, but under an autocratic regime, they might have harsher repercussions.
- As the US moves towards autocracy, job-search and career-development efforts should consider the potential instability and volatility of the political climate.
- The US is not the only country grappling with these issues; Mexico and Hungary are also seen as examples of competitive autocracies.
- To understand the impact of the US transition on the global political landscape, it's essential to analyze the repercussions on partners, rivals, and other key players in politics, sports, and beyond.
