The illiberal wave
Democracies around the world are facing the threat of illiberal forces. Autocrats are doubling down on their grip of power, while others attempt a comeback.
After Thursday’s presidential address, ‘On the continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation,’ concerns about American democracy remain high. These past two weeks have shown the American people that the threat against democratic institutions has increased, proving how a political faction has become detached from the standing consensus on democratic principles.
The most recent events regarding the various legal challenges the former president faces provide a damning assessment of his legacy. The unprecedented search of the home of a former president follows the unusual behavior of taking sensitive documents -that should be under the care of the National Archives and Records Administration- to a private residence, disregarding the laws that prevent the highest elected official in the country from doing so.
The case of the seizure of classified documents adds to a string of civil and criminal lawsuits, from the violent insurrection on January 6th to a tax fraud investigation in the state of New York. This is not only unprecedented but also a symptom of the deterioration of political institutions, considering that the former president, as the subject of these civil and criminal investigations is all but certain to run for office again.
The former president has spent the past six years asking for his rival in the 2016 election to be sent to jail for crimes she did not commit while he is currently being investigated for potential obstruction of justice and Espionage Act violations. Although these are very serious matters, the ex-president has provided a variety of unsuccessful excuses. However, what could have been a scandal serious enough to ruin a political career, has instead increased Trump’s numbers. The FBI seizure of the documents found in his Florida home has solidified the support from his party.
These are not normal times, and the country is not facing a regular threat. A former president is using his leverage to upend the political order, and the political party under his control has decided to follow him regardless of the consequences this utterly irresponsible behavior can bring upon democratic institutions.
We can recognize the illiberal traits in many instances. In the coup attempt to prevent President Biden from occupying his office. Also, in using power over the Republican base to stoke violence against poll workers and state elections officials. It is also present in the fake electors’ scheme or the pressure on Georgia’s electoral authority to find more ballots.
The illiberal shift of the Republican Party makes it difficult to treat both parties from the same perspective, and yet, the media seems persuaded that this is the right approach. One of the first pillars to fall under an illiberal wave is media. This is not only a disservice to public opinion but also a contribution to the undermining of democratic institutions.
The problem American democracy is facing is extremely consequential. In this two-party system, there is one party committed to bringing it down, and the media is treating it like business as usual. The American people deserve the truth, and yet, for some, any effort to sound the alarm about the crisis is partisanship. If the American people have nowhere to turn for information, the decline of democracy will be unstoppable. They have a tremendous responsibility, and so far, it has been disappointing. Adopting slogans is not enough if there is a failure to identify the causes of the threat and act in consequence.
