If you ask the average person on the street what the definition of democracy is, they will usually include answers such as “one person, one vote” and the rights of citizens. While these may be true, there is a lot more to successful democracy than just the basic definitions that are popular to the general public. Things such as rule of law and peaceful transition of power to an opponent are key in order for democracy to continue without slipping into authoritarianism.
Since America’s founding, democracy has been practiced, even if it was far from perfect — i.e., prohibiting voting for minorities and women. But some of the most important institutions that kept democracy afloat were developed and maintained to prevent the rise of authoritarians.
Fast forward to today, and it seems democracy in the U.S. is facing obstruction from both sides of the political aisle. Donald Trump has begun to take shots at some of the fundamental building blocks that prevent authoritarianism from taking root.
This past week, for example, Trump took assault on Gonzalo Curiel, the federal district judge who is presiding over the Trump University case. As Trump claims, Curiel’s Mexican heritage is a conflict of interest with Trump’s policy of building a wall on the border.
This is a direct challenge to the rule of law and the ability to be unbiased within the courtroom. Even if this is just a “special” case and Trump will not continue this kind of attack against other judges, it could set a precedent for the presidents to come.
Free press has also come under the assault of an angry Trump, with him calling certain reporters sleazy and all of them corrupt. When asked if the White House Press Corps. would have similar experiences during a Trump administration, the answer seemed to lean toward a yes. The press used to be one of the main barriers against corruption or perversion of rights by the government. This could change in a Trump presidency.
Finally, the protesters that have organized outside of Trump rallies and descended them into violence should be mentioned as well. While their actions are deplorable and should not be accepted as de facto behavior against any idea, these protests could shape up to be things to come as the general election gets closer and people become more polarized, especially along racial lines that have become the center of this year’s campaign.
These events do not singularly point to a collapse of democracy or a movement toward authoritarianism, but they are not positive signs of the movement in American democracy. While protesters who attack Trump supporters are a cause for concern and should be dealt with accordingly, the actions of Trump will have a longer impact on our political system than protestors outside of a rally.
Trump’s attacks on judges and the media show a clear dislike for institutions that regularly keep checks on the executive powers of the U.S. and prevent it from becoming an authoritarian’s dream job.
There are other institutions we have yet to see Trump interact with, and we would not know how that would be unless he is elected president. Institutions such as Congress, where Trump has no experience getting legislation through, might be places where Trump wants to cut corners or lay down insults in order to get what he wants, but governing is about compromise, something he hasn’t figured out yet.
Kevin Foster is a UF political science senior. His column appears on Tuesdays.
