The Monday essay: A dark new era for U.S. democracy?

Trump’s victory serves as both a caution and a call to action for the Democrats and other left-leaning parties globally.

The 2024 U.S. presidential election marks a deeply troubling chapter in American democracy, one that is more aligned with authoritarianism than any recent precedent. Donald Trump’s victory highlights an unsettling shift in the political fabric of the United States, signaling the public’s apparent tolerance, even preference, for a candidate whose actions and rhetoric challenge the very foundations of democratic governance.

This victory not only reinstates Trump, the disgraced former president, but also inaugurates a leader with an unparalleled sense of impunity – a man who openly disregards legal constraints, touts unbridled executive power, and is unfazed by criminal convictions or constitutional breaches. That he achieved such a commanding win, by more than four million votes and with 312 electoral votes, reveals a transformation in the American electorate and raises alarming questions about the future of American democracy.

This electoral outcome is not just a rejection of an alternative candidate; it is an endorsement of a style and substance that have compared to the authoritarian shifts in pre-war Germany and fascist Italy. Trump’s campaign was marked by a relentless stream of divisive, inflammatory rhetoric that was grotesque: racist remarks, blatant falsehoods, personal attacks. Yet, despite the constant flow of insults and fabrications, the American public chose him. It reveals a disturbing cultural shift – one in which the electorate has not only normalised but embraced for a second time, a brand of politics was once deemed unacceptable, and the implications of Trump’s re-election extend far beyond the borders of the United States.

As the world’s preeminent economic and military power, the character and direction of American governance have profound consequences for global stability. With Trump at the helm, America risks becoming a model of authoritarianism cloaked in democratic attire, a regime where the leader’s words carry the force of law and opposition voices are drowned out by a chorus of loyalty and fear. This erosion of democratic norms – of accountability, transparency, and respect for institutional limits – will serve as a blueprint for other leaders seeking to consolidate power and erode democratic checks and balances worldwide.

The U.S. has weathered incompetent administrations and even highly questionable governance before. Richard Nixon, for example. George W. Bush’s presidency, though highly controversial, still operated within at least some of the perceived boundaries of democratic norms. But Trump’s presidency is different: he doesn’t just bend the rules; he flaunts his disdain for them, turning constitutional limits into punchlines in a performance that mocks the democratic ideal.

This version of Trump’s America veers dangerously close to fascism – he openly fantasised about the violent punishment of his political opponents, notably Nancy Pelosi, and showed no remorse over the events of January 6, when a mob stormed the Capitol, many with the apparent intention of harming elected officials. The violence that accompanied his first administration has evolved, not diminished, with groups of armed supporters ready to defend their leader’s vision at any cost.

The impending years threaten to see America not as a model of democracy but as a nation spiraling into internal decay, a decline that will inevitably have far-reaching effects. The Trump administration’s anticipated targeting of journalists, political opponents, and social critics raises the spectre of a country where dissent is no longer a right but a dangerous gamble. Left-wing activists, progressive journalists, and anyone opposing Trump’s policies may now be forced to weigh their words carefully, knowing that retaliation is not only possible but inevitable.

This marks a dark turning point, one where democracy is no longer taken as a given, where the ideals of freedom and equality are mocked by those who hold power. The coming years will challenge not only the resilience of American institutions but also the world’s faith in the American democratic experiment itself. This election may well be remembered as the moment America opened the door to fascism – an open invitation to authoritarianism disguised with the fig leaf of democracy.

How authenticity and emotional appeal is redefining politics

The fact that Trump could win by such a decisive margin, garnering both a significant popular vote lead and overwhelming support in the Electoral College, speaks volumes about a changing dynamic in the American political psyche. Trump, with his bombastic and unapologetic persona, embodies a form of raw, radical and brash political authenticity – and this persona, more than policy or competence, appears to be a crucial factor in shaping contemporary voter behaviour.