The United States, once known worldwide for championing democracy, is now rapidly becoming the best example of undemocratic norms and values. The US presidential debates, once a forum for the candidates to present their plans for their country’s success, have now become a platform for assigning blame between the two Presidential contenders, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
The Significance of the 2024 Presidential Elections
Erosion of Democratic Norms
This increasing aggression and negative political discourse in the country has raised solemn concerns about the plight of democracy in the US. The country has always been a self-proclaimed champion of democratic ideals, civic engagement, and open political discourse at home, despite having a paradoxical role in democracy internationally. However, the reality behind the US’ belief in democracy is being exposed due to this recent debate. This trend is also undermining the country’s international credibility in promoting democratic values in developing nations. The presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris has seriously undermined the credibility of the US presidential elections as the voters are unable to hear any discussion on important issues, necessary for making thoughtful decisions, regarding the future of the country.
The disparity between the current political debate with the previous ones has diminished the public interest in the process due to the political wrangling between the two sides. The conversation between the two presidential contenders, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, has exposed the fissures in the democratic process and has decreased the faith of the US citizen’s faith in the democratic norms of the country. Unlike third-world countries, US voters prioritize the performance of the sitting government and the qualification of the candidates to elect their president.
The Biden administration has lost its faith and popularity among US citizens due to its domestic and international failures. The United States’ premature withdrawal from Afghanistan, rising tensions with Gaza, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and sparking the Russia-Ukraine conflict have increased dissatisfaction among the citizens against the Biden administration. The rise of the BRICS and augmenting de-dollarization campaigns around the world are also considered some of the failures of the Biden administration. Moreover, domestic sufferings of the US citizens due to burgeoning inflation, economic instability, unemployment, and increasing incidents of violence have also added to the rising unpopularity of the Biden administration. Failure to cope with these domestic and international challenges effectively over the last four years suggests that it would be hard for the Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election.
Being a female non-White candidate and having experience serving under two US Presidents, Kamala Harris has brought diversity to the Presidential election and Democrat’s candidature. However, she was not the top candidate of the party. She was nominated only after the resignation of President Biden from the Presidential elections after he debated with Donald Trump. Nonetheless, this diversity is insufficient to help the party win the upcoming presidential elections due to the widespread dissatisfaction among the US citizens due to the party’s incumbent government.
Conversely, the Republican candidate Donald Trump also has a lot of difficulty to get elected. However, the uncertainty in politics makes the results unpredictable. Ultimately, the American people will make decisions based on the qualifications of the candidates to guide them through difficult times. The US citizens will assess the contenders according to their future vision, history, and their ability to handle difficult situations both domestically and internationally. The uncertainty in politics may change public opinion quickly, so the ultimate results of the presidential elections will depend on the decisions of US citizens on election day.
Implications for U.S. Global Hegemony
The United States’ global hegemony had already been declining around the world for many years. Biden’s policies have further expedited the rise of Russia and China. Increasing de-dollarization and the rise of BRICS are also considered one of the failures of the Biden administration. Furthermore, the US assistance of Israel in the latter’s war crimes in Gaza has also infuriated the American citizens against the Democrat government. On the other hand, assassination attempts on Donald Trump have turned a great number of public sentiments in his favor. However, the deteriorating democratic norms in the country have made the election outcomes highly unpredictable. These issues will not only impinge the US domestically but also tarnish its image of being a champion of democracy internationally, leading to a further decline in the US-led world order.
Taut Bataut – is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”
