Expert Survey on American Democracy: March 2018
Our expert survey results in March 2018 demonstrate increased threat levels and perceived risk of democratic breakdown. From February to March 2018, ratings worsened on all six dimensions of democratic performance, further reversing the improvement from December to January. Experts rate a 9.1% chance of democratic breakdown in the U.S. within the next four years and 100% of respondents believe that democratic quality has declined over the last 10 years.
In general, democracy experts see American political behavior in 2017-18 as firmly outside the norm for consolidated democracies. The results indicate a high point of threat in March on everything but civil violence and civil liberties. There were particularly large shifts in threats surrounding executive constraints, treatment of the media, and rhetoric.
From May 2017 through March 2018, we polled 532 democracy experts on threats to American democracy. March is the eighth month after fully switching to a daily-updated rolling survey, although we will continue with our monthly updates. See here for a longer description of the survey methodology and sample, including our attempts to limit ideological bias. As a useful set of comparisons, we also asked the same questions about five other countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Poland, and Hungary. Separate experts were chosen for each country, with a total of 71 respondents. As of March, the U.S. rates worse than India and Poland on threats to democracy, although better than Hungary.
Survey Questions
We first ask about six categories that have comprised key warning signs of democratic decline elsewhere: (1) Treatment of the media, (2) Constraints on the executive against abuses of power, (3) Elections and treatment of the opposition, (4) Civil liberties, (5) Civil violence, and (6) Rhetoric indicating democratic erosion or weak normative attachment to democracy. We ask about political leaders’ behavior in these categories, but do not single out specific leaders.
Respondents grade each category from 1 to 5, with higher values indicating greater threat to democracy. To ease interpretation, the values were chosen to have concrete and tangible meanings: 1 = Normal consolidated democracy, 2 = Moderate violations atypical of consolidated democracy, 3 = Significant erosion of democratic quality with potential for future breakdown, 4 = Near-term survival threatened, and 5 = Non-democracy. Intentionally, coding a 3 or above on any dimension is a high bar.
We also ask respondents about the likelihood of democratic breakdown, whether democratic quality and stability has improved or declined over the last 10 years, and what recent events or actions (if any) they consider most threatening to democracy.
Shifts Over Time
The above figure shows the average rating for each category from May 2017 to March 2018. Results indicate increasing concerns in March compared to February, with average threat ratings increasing across all six categories.
Threats in rhetoric, executive constraints, media treatment, and elections reached all-time highs in March, extending increases starting in January. In contrast, concerns over Civil Liberties peaked in October and have nearly reached that level again. Civil Violence threats have not reached their peak immediately after Charlottesville in August.
Average predictions for democratic breakdown declined in March (16.7% to 9.1%), but the number indicating democratic decline over the past 10 years (currently 100%) held steady.
March Results
The above figure shows the average response by category in March. Experts still see the greatest threat manifested in anti-democratic rhetoric, with several pointing specifically to the president. One respondent noted, "The robustness of the rule of law and public freedom make America the oldest, most significant and most important constitutional democratic republic in the world but the current president seems to have only limited understanding of these values, concepts, and American history." Another pointed to "constant rhetoric by Trump that undermines trust in basic institutions of the American democracy.
Constraints on executive power rose to become the second greatest source of threat, with one respondent warning of "efforts by the White House to undermine the FBI, the Justice Department, and the rule of law generally." Another warned of "President Trump's efforts to undermine the Justice department, while using ill informed and disorganized power of executive authority to undermine effectiveness and governance."
Treatment of the media fell to the third greatest threat. One respondent pointed to "the general practice of the executive branch to stoke division through its attacks on the media, under-represented groups, and - most importantly - the rule of law." Another simply noted the "constant attacks on the press."
Treatment of elections falls slightly behind, with several noting the lack of efforts by the president to respond to Russian election interference and protect American election integrity. In contrast, concerns about civil violence and civil liberties have generally been in decline.
When asked to identify the most threatening recent event (if any), the most common response was the treatment of the media and interference in the Russia investigation (both mentioned by about 25% of respondents). Other frequent responses were erosion of the rule of law and anti-democratic rhetoric.
How does the U.S. compare to other countries on the same questions? The above figure shows the average threat rating across the six categories for each country. Countries fall in three groups: the United Kingdom and Canada face the lowest threat level; a middle group with Poland and India; and the U.S. and Hungary facing the greatest threat. As of March, the U.S. clearly rates worse than India and Poland. This comparison helps to validate the survey questions—not all democracy experts rate their country of expertise as being threatened or outside the norm, even in a Conservative-led UK. Rather, the U.S. jumps out as distinct from other consolidated democracies.
The third figure shows the percentage who rated each category 2 or above (indicating behavior atypical of a consolidated democracy) and 3 or above (indicating erosion and future breakdown threat). Worryingly, for the first time, majorities rate the U.S. as outside of the norm for stable democracies on every dimension. Nearly all rate rhetoric, executive constraints, elections, and treatment of media as outside the norm.
This is the fourth time that a category besides rhetoric has a majority rating a 3 or above, which is true of media treatment, executive constraints, and (for the second time) elections. In general, respondents were cautious about assigning high values—only 1 response (0.4% of total) registered the highest threat category of 5. This reassures us that respondents are not amplifying their answers for effect.
We also asked respondents whether democratic stability and quality has improved or declined over the last 10 years (chosen so the reference point is another Republican president). 100% responded that American democracy has declined, with 55.6% saying it's "much worse."
Finally, we directly asked respondents about the likelihood of democratic breakdown (by their definition) within the next four years. Note that "breakdown" does not imply full dictatorship, only a sufficient erosion of democratic functioning. The responses averaged a still-alarming 9.1%, with a median of 5%. Responses ranged from a low of 0 (given by 2 respondents) to a high of 40%, with 5 answering 20% or higher. Note that 9.1% is orders of magnitude higher than what traditional models of democratic breakdown would predict for the U.S. given its stability and socioeconomic advantages.
Analysis
The results give us clear reasons to be concerned about the future of American democracy. March saw increases in threat levels across all dimensions. There is a near-consensus that American democracy has weakened over the last 10 years and is now outside the norm for consolidated democracies, especially in rhetoric, media freedom, elections, and executive constraints. As discussed earlier, one should not view rhetoric being the highest-threat category positively since rhetoric can erode the norms holding democratic compacts together and often predicts later anti-democratic behavior.
Comparing the U.S. to other countries provides useful context. American democracy rates as considerably worse than democracy in Canada and the United Kingdom, and now worse than India and Poland (as of June). This is highly consistent with seeing American democracy as shifting downward in quality, with at least some chance of breakdown.
Indeed, the estimated 1-in-11 chance of democratic breakdown (within four years) is a major warning sign. However, the most likely downward path for American democracy remains the steady erosion of democratic norms and practices, as followed before by Venezuela, Hungary, Turkey, and many others. This presents threats that extend beyond the current administration and may imperil American democracy for years to come.
Michael K. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at George Washington University.