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.
Posted December 15, 2021
