In the aftermath of the 2016 election and during the tumultuous first year of the Trump presidency, observers across the political spectrum have struggled to anticipate the likely consequences for American democracy. Never before has a sitting president questioned the integrity of elections, challenged the separation of powers, and verbally threatened the freedom of the press. Partisan polarization is at an all-time high, public trust at an historic low. For many Americans, democracy seems more imperiled now than at any time in living memory. And similar problems are afflicting other democracies around the world.
On May 1, Brookings and Bright Line Watch will bring together the authors of four prominent new books that weigh in on the status and prospects of America’s democracy: “One Nation After Trump” by E.J. Dionne, Norm Ornstein, and Thomas Mann; “How Democracies Die” by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt; “The People vs. Democracy” by Yascha Mounk; and “Anti-Pluralism: The Populist Threat to Liberal Democracy” by William Galston. Each book offers its own unique look at how we arrived at this moment, with an American president who is singularly transgressive of democratic norms, and how the country might best move forward. The authors will discuss their books and join a panel of experts to further examine the status of American democracy and solutions to ongoing challenges facing political institutions in the United States.
Following the discussion, the panel will take questions from the audience. You can follow along on Twitter with #USDemocracy.
Bright Line Watch Survey Findings
Susan Stokes, John S. Saden Professor of Political Science, Yale University; Co-director, Bright Line Watch
Panelists
Moderator: Gretchen Helmke, Professor, University of Rochester; Co-Director, Bright Line Watch Moderator: Elaine Kamarck, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Effective Public Management, The Brookings Institution E.J. Dionne Jr., W. Averell Harriman Chair and Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution William A. Galston, Ezra K. Zilkha Chair and Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution Steven Levitsky, Professor, Harvard University Thomas Mann, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution Yascha Mounk, Lecturer, Harvard University Norm Ornstein, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute Daniel Ziblatt, Professor, Harvard University
