Experts: Dangerous processes are taking place in the US and the fragmentation of society is deepening threateningly

On Tuesday, US Democrats launched a second impeachment trial against President Trump. The indictment was filed accusing the US leader of “inciting the uprising.”

We recall that for the first time Trump’s impeachment trial was organized in 2019, accusing the president of abusing his powers and hindering the work of Congress. This time, Republican senators rejected the charges and the charges against the president were dismissed.

Although, let’s say Delfi.lt Political scientists interviewed, there are good reasons to believe that there will be large-scale protests and outbreaks of violence in the US in the near future, current developments in US domestic politics raise a number of challenges and questions that they are difficult to answer.

Fragmentation will not go away quickly.

Kęstutis Girnius, a political scientist at the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science (VU TSPMI), noted that although Trump was an ineffective president by all objective criteria related to domestic and foreign policy, he received strong support from voters. during the elections. The election results, according to the political scientist, showed that the polarizing and divisive leader continues to be strongly supported, which means that the fragmentation of society in the United States is a profound phenomenon.

“RE.” It was a brief symbol of the need to protect “white” America, stop migration, not give in to blacks, oppose globalization, and put America’s interests first, “K explained. Girnius.

The events that are now happening in the United States, according to the political scientist, have matured for several decades.

Marius Laurinavičius, an analyst at the Vilnius Institute of Political Analysis, emphasized that current events beyond the Atlantic bear witness to the political struggle and radicalization in both the Democratic and Republican camps. This radicalization, as the policy analyst has observed, further divides an already fragmented society.

“It just came to our notice then. On the part of the Democrats and their supporters, we are seeing an attempt to take advantage of the situation and further show our position that Mr. Trump was really as bad as the Democrats put it, that there was a coup, it was led by the president and needed to be charged, it really won’t work for the United States itself.

Despite what is being done with the impeachment, there is some basis, but as for the reconciliation that Joe Biden emphasizes, it is doubtful that this impeachment, a few days before the new president takes office, will help in any way. way to reconciliation. Society remains divided, ”said M. Laurinavičius.

Is the future of Democrats and Republicans uncertain?

According to M. Laurinavičius, fragmentation in domestic politics brings many unknowns. And the answers to what will happen to the Republican and Democratic parties will only be seen after a while.

Before the storm on Capitol Hill, it seemed that D. Trump had established himself as the sole leader of the Republican Party. Despite losing his presidency, he seemed like a one-sided leader and his influence in the party seemed very high. Now, hearing the latest reports that more and more Republicans support impeachment, the big question is what will Trump’s influence be within the party or whether there will be internal divisions. In general, what will be the future of this party after D. Trumpas, there are more and more questions, “he said.

The analyst from the Vilnius Institute of Political Analysis noted that many questions also arise about the Democratic Party and its future.

“The Democratic electorate may want revenge on Trump, but the Democrats must try to unite the United States so that there is no division into two camps. With revenge, I wonder if it will work. Will we hear a more moderate voice in the Democratic Party? In the context of the confrontation, the radical positions in the party are growing, where the Democratic Party will move is also a big issue. In domestic politics, the resistance that has turned into riots raises more questions than answers, “M explained. Laurinavičius.

Challenges to democracy

Political scientist K. Girnius noted that when evaluating the current and state of democracy in the United States, it is important to realize that democracy in this country has been full of ambiguities since its inception.

“It is an expression of the internal changes in the United States that have matured in 30-40 years. It will not disappear anytime soon. The United States has managed to create the image that it is the most beautiful and effective democracy, repeating it constantly. I think a great deal of Americans, even after these events, believe that.But realistically, the shortcomings of democracy have long been clear.For decades, blacks had no right to vote.

When they acquired the right to vote, in many states various measures were taken to restrict this right by making all kinds of demands. Electoral districts have been artificially restructured in some places (the so-called gerrymandering) in order to maximize the position of the ruling party, “said the interlocutor.

Democracy in the United States, from the beginning, according to K. Girnius, has been inseparable from slavery, the destruction of Indians, the ambiguous attitude towards migrants, when all are accepted but considered false Americans.

“But we must not forget that the United States has played a very important role in ensuring the development of democracy in the world,” the political scientist emphasized.

Although democracy in the United States has passed the test of D. Trumpas, as M. Laurinavičius said, dangerous processes are taking place in this country that also threaten democracy itself.

“The radicalization of both sides as a process is dangerous for democracy. But this is a long-term perspective. If we were talking from a short-term perspective, I would not agree that we have reason to talk about something that is happening to American democracy. The processes are underway. But if there had been a sudden transfer of power, then we could certainly say that this is a huge blow to democracy and it is not clear how it will recover.

“We see that the transfer of power, no matter how ephemeral Mr. Trump wants, will happen, and everything will continue in accordance with democratic norms, despite the different behavior of individuals or the radicalization of society,” said the political analyst .