After Trump, U.S. Faces Risk Of Slipping Into Hybrid Regime
From Venezuela to Belarus, there are countries that have elements of democracy but fall well short of acceptable standards of freedom and transparency. Will the U.S. end up there too? 2020-12-28
Six weeks after the U.S. election, President Donald Trump had still not accepted defeat. This behavior is not typical in mature democracies. And it s reminiscent of countries with what political scientists call hybrid regimes – nations that have elements of democracy but in practice are not democracies.
For us – politics scholars studying Latin America and the former Soviet Union – Trump s resistance to election results underscores the fragility of democratic institutions when confronted with authoritarian practices. These include deligitimizing election results, interfering with judicial independence and attacking independent media and opposition.
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Six weeks after the US election, President Donald Trump had still not accepted defeat. This behavior is not typical in mature democracies. And it’s reminiscent of countries with what political scientists call “hybrid regimes” nations that have elements of democracy but in practice are not democracies.
For us politics scholars studying Latin America and the former Soviet Union Trump’s resistance to election results underscores the fragility of democratic institutions when confronted with authoritarian practices. These include deligitimizing election results, interfering with judicial independence and attacking independent media and opposition.
Trump is part of a global trend in authoritarianism. The United States can learn a great deal from other countries where democracies fell victim to the authoritarian playbook.
By Róger Calero December 28, 2020
Sputnik/Marco TerrugiVolunteer Cuban doctors treat working people for symptoms of COVID-19 in Caracas in April. Revolutionary Cuba defends Venezuelan sovereignty against U.S. sanctions, attacks.
The pro-imperialist opposition led by Juan Guaidó that’s seeking to overthrow the government of Nicolás Maduro lost control of the legislature in elections held Dec. 6. Guaidó, with the backing of U.S. imperialism, had declared himself president in January 2019.
In one of the lowest electoral turnouts in the 22 years since late President Hugo Chávez was elected and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela has been in government, its candidates won 189 out of the 277-seat assembly 68% of the vote. Less than one-third of eligible voters participated. The opposition bloc split, with the faction led by Guaidó boycotting the election and other parties participating, winning 28% of the vote.
Viral year 2020: Events in age of pandemic aa.com.tr - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from aa.com.tr Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Zoe PC, Peoples Dispatch
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the party of Nicolas Maduro won a stunning victory in the recent election for the National Assembly. However, the US has sought to undercut this victory and to deny the will of the Venezuelan people. This webinar will give us the chance to hear voices of people who were there as election observers and independent journalists and saw a different picture than the one projected by the US government. Their talks will be followed by questions and answers. Please join us and share the information about this webinar.