By Bernard Rowan
Recently, the world has faced a rise in autocracy. We are in what I call an "autocratic age." The ascent of Xi, Bin Salman Al Saud (MBS), Putin and a host of other autocrats is troubling. I say all will form some of history's "flashes in a pan," eventually, and that's why I'm writing. Don't stop believing that democracy is a world technology for today and the future. It's taking hits these days, as some say, but it's going nowhere! Don't give into the temptation of thinking that democracy is on the ropes.
President Biden's recent speech, heralded as one of his best, was a try at exorcism. The American bully pulpit will need more than one rhetorical effort to rid American political culture of its doppelgangers. American partisan politics has become polarized. However, rampant inequality and increasing, frustrated expectations remain the real weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
Prior to Biden, the country endured four years ― not 200 plus ― of amateurishly-styled autocratic rule by a dodger and demagogue ― one singular failure of a president. America's capacities and credibility suffered much. Too many citizens and global leaders encouraged, trolled and trailed along the previous president's fake story line, and many still do so. This sad period isn't without precedents and predecessors. Their names include Huey Long and Joseph McCarthy, among many. Cynthia Koch's recent article, "Demagoguery and Democracy," for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Foundation, is a wonderful discussion of many such cousins.
America slowly begins to move on, but full change awaits a critical mass ― a herd immunity of a different type ― of reformed Republicans and Republican leaders. More time will pass first, as will there be electoral losses. Many Republican leaders mime the failed themes of the autocrats. In some ways, it's like a collective addiction, and the withdrawal remains a bad trip!
Fortunately, in America, as with most democracies, plural political parties compete for power, and independent voters exist. Don't underestimate their numbers or resolve. Libertarians and Republicans should take better stock of their senses. Most of the public didn't fall for the ruse. Voters must register and thread through those annoying requirements to show up and cast their ballot. Each vote counts. This is the battle today, unlike in 1776.
America isn't the singular or only democracy in the world. Biden's hyperbole about the stakes is mostly for domestic consumption. No one should think American democracy is on the ropes. It's doing fine and will continue to do so. The Constitution is a set of laws that organizes America's political life. Thousands of state and local constitutions and charters do too. The American public has the reason and rationality to face down this autocratic age.
What's more, the leading technology of government and politics in our world is democracy. Wikipedia has a wonderful page on democracy, with a host of scientific websites that measure and track democracies all over the world. Healthy numbers of global nations and governments follow democracy, not autocracy. And American democracy doesn't lead in all or even most of those indices, meaning that the technology's depth and breadth don't depend on any single country or people. There's room for hope. Many to most of the world's people follow democratic paths, not the mandamuses of one leader's will.
Communist one-partyism, pan-Russia version Putin, and the autarkic fantasies of other failed leaders hold sway in some quarters. However, rather than bemoan the status quo, global democracies must invest in promoting and spreading the technology of democracy. People, diplomats, foundations, outreach and money must serve democracy, and to a much greater extent than at present. Freedom has never been free. Its enemies spend aplenty. We should outmatch them in every respect. The first form of this spending is participation and involvement. But pray we don't think that democracy is in danger of going the way its current enemies all will eventually go. Democracy is a vital global technology that's here to stay.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is the associate provost for contract administration and a professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and a former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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President Biden's recent speech, heralded as one of his best, was a try at exorcism. The American bully pulpit will need more than one rhetorical effort to rid American political culture of its doppelgangers. American partisan politics has become polarized. However, rampant inequality and increasing, frustrated expectations remain the real weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
Prior to Biden, the country endured four years ― not 200 plus ― of amateurishly-styled autocratic rule by a dodger and demagogue ― one singular failure of a president. America's capacities and credibility suffered much. Too many citizens and global leaders encouraged, trolled and trailed along the previous president's fake story line, and many still do so. This sad period isn't without precedents and predecessors. Their names include Huey Long and Joseph McCarthy, among many. Cynthia Koch's recent article, "Demagoguery and Democracy," for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Foundation, is a wonderful discussion of many such cousins.
America slowly begins to move on, but full change awaits a critical mass ― a herd immunity of a different type ― of reformed Republicans and Republican leaders. More time will pass first, as will there be electoral losses. Many Republican leaders mime the failed themes of the autocrats. In some ways, it's like a collective addiction, and the withdrawal remains a bad trip!
Fortunately, in America, as with most democracies, plural political parties compete for power, and independent voters exist. Don't underestimate their numbers or resolve. Libertarians and Republicans should take better stock of their senses. Most of the public didn't fall for the ruse. Voters must register and thread through those annoying requirements to show up and cast their ballot. Each vote counts. This is the battle today, unlike in 1776.
America isn't the singular or only democracy in the world. Biden's hyperbole about the stakes is mostly for domestic consumption. No one should think American democracy is on the ropes. It's doing fine and will continue to do so. The Constitution is a set of laws that organizes America's political life. Thousands of state and local constitutions and charters do too. The American public has the reason and rationality to face down this autocratic age.
What's more, the leading technology of government and politics in our world is democracy. Wikipedia has a wonderful page on democracy, with a host of scientific websites that measure and track democracies all over the world. Healthy numbers of global nations and governments follow democracy, not autocracy. And American democracy doesn't lead in all or even most of those indices, meaning that the technology's depth and breadth don't depend on any single country or people. There's room for hope. Many to most of the world's people follow democratic paths, not the mandamuses of one leader's will.
Communist one-partyism, pan-Russia version Putin, and the autarkic fantasies of other failed leaders hold sway in some quarters. However, rather than bemoan the status quo, global democracies must invest in promoting and spreading the technology of democracy. People, diplomats, foundations, outreach and money must serve democracy, and to a much greater extent than at present. Freedom has never been free. Its enemies spend aplenty. We should outmatch them in every respect. The first form of this spending is participation and involvement. But pray we don't think that democracy is in danger of going the way its current enemies all will eventually go. Democracy is a vital global technology that's here to stay.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is the associate provost for contract administration and a professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and a former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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