Impending peril for American democracy

IN THIS UPCOMING US presidential election, the divergence between the prospective major party contenders is striking, diverging .$")$ơ )/'4 !-*( + ./ )*-(.ǟ

A similar divergence characterises the battle for control over

*)"- ..ǟ *2 1 -Ǡ 2# / # $"#/ens the stakes for both America and the global community is the fact that American democracy is *)!-*)/$)" (4-$ *! * ./ ' .ǟ

Looking ahead, the near future can be delineated with unique set *! /-$ '. ) # 5 - .ǟ $-./'4Ǡ /# electoral contest itself promises to

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Secondly, the transition period following the election, should it be necessary, could be tumultuous, potentially exacerbated by disputes over legitimacy and tran.$/$*) *! +*2 -ǟ

Finally, the governance phase poses its own challenges, with potential gridlock and partisan strife '**($)" ' -" ǟ

Navigating through these phases will require robust institutions, a commitment to democratic +-$) $+' .Ǡ ) *'' /$1 ƥ*-/ /* .0-(*0)/ /# # '' )" . # ǟ

The fate of American democracy, and by extension, its global $)ƣ0 ) Ǡ # )". $) /# ' ) ǟ

As the United States hurtles towards election day on November 5, the contours of a troubling trend are becoming increasingly apparent: politics has taken precedence over policy making, resulting in a legislative stalemate that threatens critical national $)/ - ./.ǟ

) "' -$)" *). ,0 ) *! /#$. gridlock is the impasse over mili/ -4 $ /* &- $) ǟ .+$/ /# urgent need to bolster defences against Russian aggression, the

+0 '$ )Ƕ' *0. Ǡ #*$)" the stance of presidential hopeful Donald Trump, has balked at ap+-*1$)" 1$/ ' ..$./ ) ǟ

This myopic obstructionism jeopardises two years of hard-won progress in countering Kremlin

''$" - ) ǟ *- *1 -Ǡ ƥ*-/. to enhance border security have

) ./4($ 4 *0. +0 licans, seemingly at the behest *! -0(+ǟ # *). ,0 ) ǧ vulnerable southern border, with immigration policies languishing in limbo, their potential economic ) ơ/. .,0 ) - ǟ This toxic brew of partisan politics threatens to undermine

( -$ ǭ. $'$/4 /* - .. pressing challenges and uphold its leadership role on the global ./ " ǟ

The imperative for statesmanship and compromise has never been clearer in recent political #$./*-4 *! ( -$ ǟ $'0- /* heed this call risks squandering the very foundations of our democracy and imperiling collective !0/0- ǟ

The sacrosanct tradition of the peaceful transfer of power, once an article of faith in American democracy, now teeters on the edge *! 0) -/ $)/4ǟ

The 75-day interregnum between election and inauguration '**(. . +*/ )/$ ' ƣ .#+*$)/ $)

) '- 4 /0(0'/0*0. 4 -ǟ # traumatic events of January 6, 2021, serve as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in this tran.$/$*) ' + -$* ǟ

Against this backdrop of uncertainty, the specter of political vio' ) '**(. ' -" ǟ $/# /# *0/come likely hanging by a thread in a handful of pivotal states, the risk of civil unrest escalates, + -/$ 0' -'4 $! /# - .0'/. *)ơ-(

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THE FATE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, AND BY EXTENSION, ITS GLOBAL INFLUENCE, HANGS IN THE BALANCE