Washington: Joe Biden swears the oath of office at noon on Wednesday to become the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump will walk out of the White House leaving behind a legacy of chaos and a nation bitterly divided.
Trump departs the office twice impeached, with millions more out of work and 400,000 dead from the COVID-19. Republicans under his watch lost the presidency and both chambers of Congress. He will be forever remembered for the final major act of his presidency: inciting an insurrection at the Capitol that left five dead, including a Capitol Police officer, and horrified the nation.
Speaking exclusively with ETV Bharat/Eenadu, Paul S. Herrnson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut, USA, expressed his views over the recent phase which the United States of America is going through and answered few queries.
How united is the United States at present?
The US is very divided. There is a deep chasm dividing Democratic and Republican voters and politicians. Partisan divisions overlay broader socioeconomic, cultural, and ideological divisions.
The Democrats tend to be educated white-collar workers who believe the government should play an active role in addressing inequality, the environment, racial injustice, international aid. Many emphasize identity politics. They tend to be secular, tolerant of different lifestyles, support gun control, and listen to national public radio. Most understand the give and take of politics, believe in the rule of law, and value political processes and the Constitution.
Traditional Republicans generally believe in free markets, a strong defence, and conservative values. Some are business owners, economic elites and very rich. They tend to understand the give and take of politics, believe in the rule of law, and value political processes and the Constitution.
Trump Republican voters are largely uneducated, blue-collar workers—many of whom lost or fear losing their jobs and fear the future. Most favour limited government or are anti-government, though many benefit from government safety programs. Most would like to roll back the clock to the mid 20th century—a period that period. Many are Christian, intolerant, own guns, and listen to right-wing talk radio. Trump Republicans fall into line with whatever Donald Trump tells them, do not understand that politics requires obeying rules, law, and the Constitution. They believe in prosecuting their cause rather than compromise. They are easily manipulated. Trump Republican politicians seek to garner their support to win party primaries in very conservative areas.
Democrats and Republicans live in different bubbles. They live in a different neighbourhood, attend different schools and places of worship, and turn to different places for news and entertainment.
Who is responsible for present impasses in the USA? Are political parties equally responsible for it or should it only be seen as a result of the Trump administration?
The divisions have been festering for a long time. They were inflamed by Newt Gingrich and other Republican politicians who ignored and attacked political norms and procedures. Trump’s divide and conquer approach to campaigning and governing exacerbated the situation and triggered the storming of the Capitol.
Democratic politicians’ long-time dominance of Congress, arrogance, expansion of government, focus on identity politics, and lack of understanding and empathy for fearful, angry Republicans contributes to the divisions.
Are conservative groups using liberal rights to undermine liberal and democratic rule in America? What has been the Republican party's contribution to this?
Yes. They claim they are for free speech, upholding the law and the Constitution, and capitalism. They tend to support those values when it suits their purposes. They do not support the rights and liberties of those who disagree with them. The Republican Party’s tolerance of anti-democratic
Both parties’ failure to crack down on intolerant, violent white supremacist groups contribute to the problem. The Republican politicians’ pandering to them and legitimizing their claims to win their votes has been a problem.
Even after losing the elections, there seem to be a significant number of Americans rallying behind Trump. How can one understand this?
Trump’s hardcore followers believe the lies Trump and some Republican politicians have fed them. They embrace conspiracies and Trump’s lies over facts.
What should be the role of political parties in helping America regain political normalcy?
The parties need to do a better job recruiting and nominating candidates who embrace traditional values. They need to adopt rules that prevent those who do not support our political system and its underlying values from winning their nominations and perhaps running for them.
Why is it that an affluent society like America is unable to maintain social equilibrium and ensure social and economic justice for its citizens?
Leadership that glorifies greed and stoke division, and voters who are willing to follow them.
Do you see the role or influence of china in the political, social and the economic situation prevalent in the united states?
China poses a threat, but some politicians overstatement of the spectre of the threat has distracted people from internal threats, including threats posed by the violent right-wing, supremacist groups in the US.
American democracy is known for institutions such as the judiciary and the media acting as barriers against the rise of populist/authoritarian leaders? How far have these succeeded during the trump administration? Have political parties contributed towards realising the goals of the founding fathers of American democracy or have they worked against these ideals?
Trump has pushed things to the brink, including by ignoring the constitutional roles of Congress and the Courts. The system was designed to have ambition check ambition. Political parties were not part of the original formula, but their pursuit of electoral majorities has been important in promoting moderate politics and majority rule. The opening of the party nomination process to virtually anyone who wants to run for office contributes to challenging.
What are the challenges before the Biden administration?
The pandemic, weak economy, societal divisions that led to the mob violence at the Capitol and elsewhere. Republican politicians in Congress who fear compromise will result in their losing their primaries to more extreme politicians.
These challenges provide Biden with an opportunity to be a great president. He and his administration have the opportunity to turn things around. Not every administration has this opportunity.
How will you rate American democracy given the recent happenings after elections?
The US is in a crisis period. It is not as serious as that preceding the Civil War. It probably is as serious as the 1960s and the Great Depression.
What will be the future of rightist politics in America?
It depends. Strong law enforcement is important to curb the behaviour of violent anti-democratic right-wingers. Strong, honest leadership among Republicans is also needed.
