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Google News 09/11: Researcher predicts the fall of American democracy
To put it mildly: we’ve got a damn good thing going here in the United States. Citizens of our country enjoy an unprecedented range of political and social privileges (too much, maybe— the freedom is almost stifling) and we can reasonably expect to be in good spirits and health.
Our commitment to the principles of a democratic society, as outlined for example in the Constitution, has been crucial for the development of this good fortune. Respecting the will of the people, securing personal liberties, and similar American values have contributed greatly to our society’s progress.
But this progress may not be on an upward trend. At a recent conference of the International Society for Political Psychologists, political scientist Shawn Rosenberg proposed that the great experiment of democracy is doomed to fail — and that we’re seeing the initial stages of this downfall today. This is all because the principles of democracy are succumbing to the rise of populism.
Today’s article will review Rosenberg’s argument and examine it in more detail. Why does he believe populism threatens the future of our democracy? And can anything be done to steer us in the right direction?
