Susan Stokesdirector of Center for Democracy at the University of Chicagohas dedicated his career to studying the risks facing democracies in developing countries and now you see how your country has entered a autocratic drift to your country and how in his own city the president Donald Trump He has fiercely repressed protests against his Administration for anti-immigrant raids. Visiting the University of Barcelona to inaugurate the new Center for Research in Institutions, Politics and Economics (IPERC), and with a recently published book – ‘Los renegados (The Backsliders): why leaders undermine their own democracies‘– talks with EL PERIÓDICO about the delicate political health in USA.
Is American democracy in decline?
We are a democratic society with an authoritarian government. We have a president and a majority in Congress who act in a dictatorial manner. It does not respect the rule of law, has deployed militarized forces in several cities, including Chicago, and has carried out arbitrary detentions, including of US citizens, and ordered extrajudicial executions in the Caribbean. These actions resemble those of autocratic governments, although the society remains democratic in many ways.
What makes society remain democratic?
People continue to behave like citizens of a democracy: they speak, they meet, they vote and they believe in the opposition and freedom of expression, even under pressure. Universities suffer attacks against academic freedom, but they continue to resist. The federal courts have reined in the government, although the Supreme Court shows less commitment to democratic norms. Analysts and politicians, including Republicans, are sounding the alarm and resistance movements are emerging, but it will take time.
Does the separation of powers still exist?
Congress has stopped acting as an independent power. The Republican majority rarely questions the president. Trump’s control over the party allows him to intimidate dissident lawmakers. The courts have been firmer, and despite judges facing harassment and even violence, many have acted bravely to uphold the rule of law.
He government shutdown Is it another symptom of decline or a turning point?
Both things. The shutdown comes because the president and Republican leaders refuse to negotiate, breaking with a long American tradition. Democrats, who had been criticized for their passivity, have taken a stronger stance in demanding funding for health subsidies, and both parties blame each other, but the public blames the party in power more. It delves into the decline because Trump is using the confrontation to purge public officials, a maneuver currently blocked by the courts. And the Democrats want it to be a full stop: they have found a cause to unite, although they are still looking for leadership ahead of the 2028 elections.
Could Trump run again?
It is unlikely, although not impossible. He says he will do so in order to provoke his opponents and discourage voters who believe he will remain in power no matter what. But, constitutionally, it would be almost impossible, unless the system collapsed. At 79, his health and effectiveness are declining, and many Republicans aspire to succeed him. Internal tensions make another candidacy unlikely, and even the Supreme Court itself would probably reject it. He would have to declare an insurrection to stay in office.
Susan Stokes, director of the Center for Democracy at the University of Chicago / Jordi Otix / EPC
The word “insurrection” is not foreign to the United States. Has civil society managed to recover from the collective trauma of January 6?
No, it remains a deeply divisive issue. Republicans continue to defend the false narrative of electoral fraud. This denial prevents us from collectively processing the trauma. The January 6 Commission left a clear record of the events, but there was no accountability. Many of those convicted were later pardoned and some today hold positions in the Administration.
Is the US more polarized than ever?
Political parties are more polarized than the population. Many Americans are tired of division and are seeking a more serene and pragmatic politics. There is an “exhausted majority” centrist willing to support leaders who offer optimism and unity, as Obama or Reagan did, who managed to connect with that hopeful message. Furthermore, Americans are turning out to vote in record numbers precisely because of polarization. People feel there is more at stake. Polarization has mobilized both sides.
Why don’t we see more mass protests in the streets? Is it fear of repression?
The Government is trying to silence its critics in academia, the press and civil society, through lawsuits, funding cuts and intimidation. Still, there are signs of resistance: even the pro-Trump network, Fox News, said it would not accept the censorship conditions imposed by the Administration to obtain credentials to cover the Pentagon. Movements like No Kings (we don’t want kings) are very active, although the protests are more decentralized and less visible, participation is higher than during Trump’s first term, and this Saturday’s march is expected to bring millions of people to the streets.
Is US interference abroad, such as in Venezuela, another symptom of democratic decline?
Yes. Trump’s foreign policy is erratic and transactional, without precedent. He uses tariffs and threats for political purposes, punishing countries for unrelated issues, as he wants to do with Brazil. Trump’s rhetoric is isolationist, but his actions are not. This contradiction—between isolationist discourse and violent interventionism—could fracture his own coalition if a real conflict broke out. Authoritarian governments tend to be more aggressive internationally: the rise of autocracies makes the world more dangerous. The defense of democracy must be global.
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