De Bruin and co-author Marquette University Associate Professor of Political Science Risa Brooks argue that democracy is most likely to break down via incremental steps to undermine elections, rather than a violent insurrection or coup. Republican efforts to control election administration, restrict participation, and build public support for anti-democratic actions – these comparatively quiet but ongoing actions, they argue, pose the biggest threat to democracy today.
The authors make clear that different actions – from laws granting state legislatures more control over elections to politicians casting doubt on electoral outcomes, encouraging violence & politicizing the military – all work together to make subverting democracy more likely.
The piece highlights in particular just how dangerous the authors believe current Republican efforts to control election administration are.
