In the past, if America was going to the polls, nations stood still as they awaited the next global leader- A leader not only for white, Asian, Jewish or black Americans but one for the Commonwealth of Nations. The president elect would automatically have a responsibility to protect, guide and head various regions and intergovernmental organizations of the world.

America’s Democratic space in details

America’s Democratic Space is a complex and multifaceted arena where citizens, institutions and various societal forces interact to shape the governance and political landscape of the country through multiple physical and virtual mediums such as town hall meetings , public hearings, seminars mainstream media outlets and online platforms. From a glance, America’s democratic space seems like a genuinely equal playing field for example opposition political figures and activists freely express their opinions, the public freely criticizes the ruling government, there is little or no attempt by the state to manipulate and change the constitution in their favor before elections, there are multiple voting locations and various digital voting platforms within each states and unlimited universal suffrage and equal separation of powers.

Lessons to learn

Open and Independent Civil Society

America has some of the most successful civil society groups in the world. As defenders of the interests of the people, U.S civil society organizations have confronted diverse set of threats ranging from online and offline intimidation to state surveillance and politically motivated investigations. However, U.S CSOs have maintained their position as frontline defenders of the voice of the people.

Public Interest and Participation (Strong Civic Duty)

We can’t exactly trace what causes people to develop a strong sense of civic duty and a belief that they can influence government. However, it has been observed that most Americans compelled largely by friends, organizations, political parties, or a candidate’s campaign have a strong sense of civic duty. This is proven by Pew’s research who claims that six -in -ten Ordinary Americans what to make the political system work.

Access to the Ballot

Polling places are the most direct form of democratic participation. In America, beyond the physical spaces such as schools, community centers and churches, citizens have options to vote by mail and other mailing sites- making it easy for citizens to vote.

Independent Media

Media has long been an instrument for the balanced and in-depth discussions of political issues where diverse viewpoints are represented and listeners can participate through calls and comments. However, this is not to suggest that American media is unbiased and fully independent. Andrew Daniller of Pew Research Center records that 9% of adults name the media as the biggest problem with the political system of America today.

What to avoid

Extreme Political Polarization

In America its either you are blue or red and nothing in between. This kind of political culture has proven to be more harmful and divisive for democracy. For example the 2023 January 6th insurrection on Capitol Hill after the 2021 general election warned us of the dangers posed by unchecked polarization.

Extreme Political Slander

It has become very common for political opponents to insult and verbally abuse each other during election campaigns but if we are paying close attention this form of uncultured political trend has trickled down to the public. Unfortunately, just like political polarization extreme political slander has proven to be harmful for democracy and can sometimes lead to political violence.

Extreme Bias Media

It is very easy to find bias mainstream media outlets in America. Biased political information about a candidate or political party usually spreads like wildfire. This makes the public more likely to react based on propaganda and this usually wastes opportunities to solve real problems.

 In conclusion, America’s democratic space is characterized by its strength in enabling widespread participation of its citizens but has over the years adapted unethical political characteristics such as extreme political polarization, political slander and controlled political information, that any aspiring democracy should avoid.