Why Do Americans Accept Democratic Backsliding?
As Election Day approaches, Trump intimidation ef…
An episode of the The Science of Politics podcast, hosted by Niskanen Center, titled "Why Do Americans Accept Democratic Backsliding?" was published on October 7, 2020 and runs 42 minutes.
October 7, 2020 ·42m · The Science of Politics
Summary
As Election Day approaches, Trump intimidation efforts are increasing and Americans in both parties are worried that the other side could use unfair tactics to sway the election. Why does the public fail to serve as a check on anti-democratic practices? Matt Graham finds that only a small fraction of voters prioritize democratic principles over partisan and ideological interests. And by increasing ideological differences, polarization has hurt democracy’s valuation. Larry Bartels finds that large numbers of Republicans countenance anti-democratic moves. And it’s not based on their support for Trump, but their broader ethnic antagonism. They both say we should worry about American democratic backsliding among elites because public support for democracy won't save us. Photo Credit: Donald Trump / Public domain