LOS ANGELES, California — As the United States approaches the midterm elections, some political scientists warn the country may be drifting toward what they describe as “competitive authoritarianism,” while others argue democratic institutions remain resilient.
Staffan I. Lindberg of Sweden’s V-Dem Institute said the U.S. has crossed into what he calls an “electoral autocracy,” where elections still occur but democratic norms erode. Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die, similarly described the U.S. as experiencing a “mild form” of competitive authoritarianism, citing rhetoric targeting media organizations, proposals to expand executive power, and aggressive immigration enforcement actions.
Levitsky referenced recent administration disputes with media companies and comments about using U.S. cities as military training grounds as troubling signals.
Other scholars disagree. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said the administration is responding to perceived institutional bias and that political conflict does not automatically equal authoritarianism. Kurt Weyland of the University of Texas argued that checks and balances have constrained executive overreach, pointing to court rulings and public backlash over immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
With debates intensifying over federal monitoring of elections and voter data requests, researchers say the November midterms may serve as a significant test of American democratic norms.
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