The US is no longer a Democracy. Now it's official. (1 Viewer)

[Juks]

According to a report from the University of Gothenburg, the United States is no longer a democracy. What took Orbán in Hungary, Modi in India or Erdoğan in Turkey almost a decade to accomplish, Trump has managed in three months, says Institute professor Staffan Lindberg. “It has gone too far. I am prepared to say that, as of today, the United States no longer qualifies as a democracy. Instead, it has transitioned into what is known as an ‘electoral autocracy.’ Trump was elected, it was a free and fair election, and the Constitution, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and so on, remain intact on paper,” Lindberg says. “But many of these elements have been so thoroughly dismantled de facto that one can no longer classify the US as a democracy. Trump is attacking lawyers, universities, the media, and civil society,” he continues in an interview with Yle.
Article in Swedish for reference:
Demokratiforskare: USA är inte längre en demokrati | Utrikes | Svenska Yle

The report doesn't specifically focus on the United States but rather on democracy in general. However, I suspect that YLE found the fact that the US is no longer considered a democracy to be the most striking and newsworthy aspect of the report, which is why they wrote an article solely about that.

Here is the report
V-DEM Democracy Report 2025 25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?

The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project is one of the most comprehensive democracy measurement initiatives globally. It compiles over 31 million data points on democracy, covering 202 countries from 1789 to 2024, across more than 600 indicators. These are coded by a pool of over 4,200 country experts and aggregated using advanced statistical models to produce multiple democracy indices, such as the Electoral V-Dem distinguishes between several core principles of democracy: electoral, liberal, majoritarian, consensual, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian. This multidimensional approach allows for nuanced tracking of democratic backsliding in areas like media freedom, judicial independence, civil society space, and more.

 

[Sweden]

According to a report from the University of Gothenburg, the United States is no longer a democracy. What took Orbán in Hungary, Modi in India or Erdoğan in Turkey almost a decade to accomplish, Trump has managed in three months, says Institute professor Staffan Lindberg. “It has gone too far. I am prepared to say that, as of today, the United States no longer qualifies as a democracy. Instead, it has transitioned into what is known as an ‘electoral autocracy.’ Trump was elected, it was a free and fair election, and the Constitution, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and so on, remain intact on paper,” Lindberg says. “But many of these elements have been so thoroughly dismantled de facto that one can no longer classify the US as a democracy. Trump is attacking lawyers, universities, the media, and civil society,” he continues in an interview with Yle.
Article in Swedish for reference:
Demokratiforskare: USA är inte längre en demokrati | Utrikes | Svenska Yle

The report doesn't specifically focus on the United States but rather on democracy in general. However, I suspect that YLE found the fact that the US is no longer considered a democracy to be the most striking and newsworthy aspect of the report, which is why they wrote an article solely about that.

Here is the report
V-DEM Democracy Report 2025 25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?

The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project is one of the most comprehensive democracy measurement initiatives globally. It compiles over 31 million data points on democracy, covering 202 countries from 1789 to 2024, across more than 600 indicators. These are coded by a pool of over 4,200 country experts and aggregated using advanced statistical models to produce multiple democracy indices, such as the Electoral V-Dem distinguishes between several core principles of democracy: electoral, liberal, majoritarian, consensual, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian. This multidimensional approach allows for nuanced tracking of democratic backsliding in areas like media freedom, judicial independence, civil society space, and more.

I agree with Lindberg but an opinion by an academic is not 'official'.

 

[Mycroft]

According to a report from the University of Gothenburg, the United States is no longer a democracy. What took Orbán in Hungary, Modi in India or Erdoğan in Turkey almost a decade to accomplish, Trump has managed in three months, says Institute professor Staffan Lindberg. “It has gone too far. I am prepared to say that, as of today, the United States no longer qualifies as a democracy. Instead, it has transitioned into what is known as an ‘electoral autocracy.’ Trump was elected, it was a free and fair election, and the Constitution, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and so on, remain intact on paper,” Lindberg says. “But many of these elements have been so thoroughly dismantled de facto that one can no longer classify the US as a democracy. Trump is attacking lawyers, universities, the media, and civil society,” he continues in an interview with Yle.
Article in Swedish for reference:
Demokratiforskare: USA är inte längre en demokrati | Utrikes | Svenska Yle

I wonder how much money Lindberg isn't getting from USAID anymore.

 

[Sweden]

I wonder how much money Lindberg isn't getting from USAID anymore.

Why on earth do you suppose that Swedish professors are paid by USAID. Your post is crazy.

 

[Bergslagstroll]

It is also about harassment, threats and violence.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5287708/trump-pardoned-jan-6-rioters-prosecutors-fbi-police

https://www.reuters.com/investigations/these-judges-ruled-against-trump-then-their-families-came-under-attack-2025-05-02/

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/19/nx-s1-5114047/springfield-ohio-haitian-migrants-trump-safety-concerns

The Trump world’s assault on the people who administer U.S. elections

Reuters investigates the campaign of fear being waged by supporters of Donald Trump against the people who administer America's elections.

www.reuters.com

While also unwillingness from Republican politicians to stand up for democracy, rule of law and the constitution against Trump.

 

[Mycroft]

Why on earth do you suppose that Swedish professors are paid by USAID. Your post is crazy.

I don't know about "Swedish professors", but Lindberg had this to say about USAID...

In addition, Trump's actions also have global effects," says Lindberg.

The dismantling of USAID and other American aid projects, which contribute to the development of civil society and education in the world, is a major step backwards for democracy and the organizations that work for it and are dependent on aid.​

I can think of only one reason why Lindberg would ignore the blatant corruption that USAID has engaged in, and that is that Lindberg, himself, has benefited from that corruption.

 

[Sweden]

I don't know about "Swedish professors", but Lindberg had this to say about USAID...

In addition, Trump's actions also have global effects," says Lindberg.​

​

The dismantling of USAID and other American aid projects, which contribute to the development of civil society and education in the world, is a major step backwards for democracy and the organizations that work for it and are dependent on aid.​

I can think of only one reason why Lindberg would ignore the blatant corruption that USAID has engaged in, and that is that Lindberg, himself, has benefited from that corruption.

"I can think of only one reason". Could it be that your "thoughts" are the result of ill-informed prejudice? Why not stop after your first seven words - "I do not know about Swedish professors" which are clearly accurate?

 

[Mycroft]

"I can think of only one reason". Could it be that your "thoughts" are the result of ill-informed prejudice? Why not stop after your first seven words - "I do not know about Swedish professors" which are clearly accurate?

Sorry, but I'm not going to take that broad brush you keep trying to hand me. I'm not talking about "Swedish professors". I'm responding to one statement from one person...Lindberg.

In any event, I think it's more likely that Lindberg's comment is the result of his own prejudice...regardless of whether that prejudice is the result of loss of income or something else...since he blatantly ignores the corruption from USAID.

 

[US&THEM]

I wonder how much money Lindberg isn't getting from USAID anymore.

Yes because Trump is above taking and taking and taking and taking and taking

 

[multivita-man]

According to a report from the University of Gothenburg, the United States is no longer a democracy. What took Orbán in Hungary, Modi in India or Erdoğan in Turkey almost a decade to accomplish, Trump has managed in three months, says Institute professor Staffan Lindberg. “It has gone too far. I am prepared to say that, as of today, the United States no longer qualifies as a democracy. Instead, it has transitioned into what is known as an ‘electoral autocracy.’ Trump was elected, it was a free and fair election, and the Constitution, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and so on, remain intact on paper,” Lindberg says. “But many of these elements have been so thoroughly dismantled de facto that one can no longer classify the US as a democracy. Trump is attacking lawyers, universities, the media, and civil society,” he continues in an interview with Yle.
Article in Swedish for reference:
Demokratiforskare: USA är inte längre en demokrati | Utrikes | Svenska Yle

I would counter that we're not quite there yet, but we're certainly trending in that direction, and faster and more aggressively than I thought we would be. We still, at present, have democratic elections scheduled. We still have freedom of the press. We still have a functioning court system. We still have the core institutions and they do function, but they are being directly assaulted in ways that they were not designed to handle over a long period of time. These systems and institutions absolutely will fail if there isn't a reversal of course soon.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Why on earth do you suppose that Swedish professors are paid by USAID. Your post is crazy.

You have to consider what it is like to belong to a cult. That lot will jump on here to defend Trump no matter what the topic. Of course posts like that one are crazy. But when you operate on auto-defense mode you don't have to think about what you are going to say before you say it.

 

[multivita-man]

While also unwillingness from Republican politicians to stand up for democracy, rule of law and the constitution against Trump.

This has been brewing for probably at least 10-15 years. When Republicans lost elections in 2006 (mid-terms) and 2008 & 2012 (general), they had the chance to be more moderate and work with the center. They refused. They pushed out Speaker Boehner and another prominent Republican Eric Cantor. In 2015, they had been waiting for the right candidate to put a brand on their growing extremism, and they found their guy the moment he rode down the escalator.

 

[The Mark]

I don't know about "Swedish professors", but Lindberg had this to say about USAID...

In addition, Trump's actions also have global effects," says Lindberg.

The dismantling of USAID and other American aid projects, which contribute to the development of civil society and education in the world, is a major step backwards for democracy and the organizations that work for it and are dependent on aid.​

I can think of only one reason why Lindberg would ignore the blatant corruption that USAID has engaged in, and that is that Lindberg, himself, has benefited from that corruption.

That is...definitely not the only possible reason, and it's really weird that you think that can be the only reason.

 

[ataraxia]

I wonder how much money Lindberg isn't getting from USAID anymore.

Not as much as a Qatari jumbo jet, that’s for sure.

 

[Mycroft]

Yes because Trump is above taking and taking and taking and taking and taking

I don't think Trump has gotten a dime from USAID.

In any event, your deflection is noted...and rejected.

Bye.

 

[Mycroft]

That is...definitely not the only possible reason, and it's really weird that you think that can be the only reason.

Cool.

You are free to come up with your own reasons.

 

[The Mark]

Cool.

You are free to come up with your own reasons.

It could be that he literally meant exactly what he said, and had no ulterior motives at all.

 

[Perotista]

According to a report from the University of Gothenburg, the United States is no longer a democracy. What took Orbán in Hungary, Modi in India or Erdoğan in Turkey almost a decade to accomplish, Trump has managed in three months, says Institute professor Staffan Lindberg. “It has gone too far. I am prepared to say that, as of today, the United States no longer qualifies as a democracy. Instead, it has transitioned into what is known as an ‘electoral autocracy.’ Trump was elected, it was a free and fair election, and the Constitution, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and so on, remain intact on paper,” Lindberg says. “But many of these elements have been so thoroughly dismantled de facto that one can no longer classify the US as a democracy. Trump is attacking lawyers, universities, the media, and civil society,” he continues in an interview with Yle.
Article in Swedish for reference:
Demokratiforskare: USA är inte längre en demokrati | Utrikes | Svenska Yle

The report doesn't specifically focus on the United States but rather on democracy in general. However, I suspect that YLE found the fact that the US is no longer considered a democracy to be the most striking and newsworthy aspect of the report, which is why they wrote an article solely about that.

Here is the report
V-DEM Democracy Report 2025 25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped?

The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project is one of the most comprehensive democracy measurement initiatives globally. It compiles over 31 million data points on democracy, covering 202 countries from 1789 to 2024, across more than 600 indicators. These are coded by a pool of over 4,200 country experts and aggregated using advanced statistical models to produce multiple democracy indices, such as the Electoral V-Dem distinguishes between several core principles of democracy: electoral, liberal, majoritarian, consensual, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian. This multidimensional approach allows for nuanced tracking of democratic backsliding in areas like media freedom, judicial independence, civil society space, and more.

I can see how University of Gothenburg came to that conclusion. Trump has been ruling over America with all his EO’s and hasn’t governed the country. There’s been almost no legislation passed by this congress except the CR to keep the government open and running through the end of September. Trump through his EO’s has ruled more like a king than governed like a president going through congress getting his agenda passed by congress.

Whether or not I agree or disagree with Trump’s EO’s, their intent, it is still using EO’s to rule over this country like a king. Not governing. It seems to me that Trump has turned the office of the presidency into a kingship, not an administration that enforces the laws, legislation passed by congress. Trump is using EO’s to make law, not to enforce the laws passed by congress.

 

[US&THEM]

I don't think Trump has gotten a dime from USAID.

In any event, your deflection is noted...and rejected.

Bye.

You had me at “I don’t think”

 

[H. E. Panqui]

Ime, it's good to remember that 'the US political system' is and always has been waaaaaaaaaaay more of a PLUTOCRACY than any sort of honest Democracy...unless you believe 'Democracy' is characterized by a phony $election process whereby our ma$ter$ [through these stinking rotten Republicrats] FORCE-feed us a couple of 'viable candidates' [shit puppet$] with no honest debate, no honest competition of ideas, priorities, etc..

...ugh..

 

[The AntiDonald]

I would counter that we're not quite there yet, but we're certainly trending in that direction, and faster and more aggressively than I thought we would be. We still, at present, have democratic elections scheduled. We still have freedom of the press. We still have a functioning court system. We still have the core institutions and they do function, but they are being directly assaulted in ways that they were not designed to handle over a long period of time. These systems and institutions absolutely will fail if there isn't a reversal of course soon.

You say we have a functioning court system. When it comes to the executive, I would have to disagree. Trump has defied three lower court orders and two SC orders. And it seems that no matter who you ask, no one has any remedy for this. We've been waiting for a month for a judge to issue some contempt charges. so far, all we get is delay after delay.

 

[Mycroft]

It could be that he literally meant exactly what he said, and had no ulterior motives at all.

Then he is ignorant and not aware of the facts about USAID.

 

[Callen]

Trumpers admire Orban and what he has done because the suppression is of their perceived enemies. They don't seem to understand suppression of any Americans rights is actually a suppression of theirs. They don't seem to get the ultimate costs of what is happening.

 

[Lovebug]

It is also about harassment, threats and violence.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5287708/trump-pardoned-jan-6-rioters-prosecutors-fbi-police

https://www.reuters.com/investigations/these-judges-ruled-against-trump-then-their-families-came-under-attack-2025-05-02/

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/19/nx-s1-5114047/springfield-ohio-haitian-migrants-trump-safety-concerns

The Trump world’s assault on the people who administer U.S. elections

Reuters investigates the campaign of fear being waged by supporters of Donald Trump against the people who administer America's elections.

www.reuters.com

While also unwillingness from Republican politicians to stand up for democracy, rule of law and the constitution against Trump.

This.
Trump, who swore to uphold the constitution, is making a mockery of it.
He has neutered 53 Senators and 218 Reps and those wimps sit there like wet poodles.
Any one of us would have been fired a long time ago for not doing our jobs. What an upside down world we live in.

 

[VanceMack]

I don't know about "Swedish professors", but Lindberg had this to say about USAID...

In addition, Trump's actions also have global effects," says Lindberg.​

​

The dismantling of USAID and other American aid projects, which contribute to the development of civil society and education in the world, is a major step backwards for democracy and the organizations that work for it and are dependent on aid.​

I can think of only one reason why Lindberg would ignore the blatant corruption that USAID has engaged in, and that is that Lindberg, himself, has benefited from that corruption.

He has LOTS of company. Across the media and in the rat party, plenty of retards shouted The American people didnt vote for DOGE!" while at the same time moaning about the disclosure of funding for gay trans puppet shows in Moldova...and similar programs that the people damn sure didnt vote for.

And it doesnt need to be said I reckon...but no...the US isnt and never has been a 'democracy'. That is another one of those words that people bleat on about but in reality have no idea what they are supporting.