The Future of American Democracy

Discussions of democratic backsliding in the United States understandably focus on the current Trump administration. However, even if that administration is replaced through normal electoral channels in 2028 the country will face two enormous threats to democracy. The first is a constitutional order, including the powerful Senate and the even more powerful Supreme Court, that is increasingly unaccountable to popular majorities. The second is the rapid turn to oligarchy, with an unprecedented concentration of economic, social, and political power. Placing American democracy on a sustainable footing will require, sooner rather than later, a political movement capable of addressing these two daunting challenges.