Some experts argue the United States is no longer a liberal democracy but operates under a system called "competitive authoritarianism."
The Core Concept
The term "competitive authoritarianism," coined in 2002 by scholars Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way, originally described countries like Serbia, Kenya, and Peru. In these regimes, democratic elections are held, but the state uses its resources to tilt the playing field in favor of the incumbent. The authors initially called the concept "Contested Autocracy" but adopted the current term after a colleague misremembered it.
Scholars Weigh In
Steven Levitsky, Harvard professor and co-author of How Democracies Die, has stated that Trump's pardons of January 6 convicts exemplify competitive authoritarian tactics. Levitsky noted that the Trump administration's actions against critics in the Justice Department, media, and universities raised the cost of opposition.
"Trump's pardons of January 6 convicts exemplify competitive authoritarian tactics." — Steven Levitsky
However, other scholars maintain the US remains a democracy. They point to ongoing protests, media freedom (e.g., Jimmy Kimmel remains on air), and the fact that competitive authoritarianism does not guarantee permanent rule.
A Historical Example: Hungary
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was seen as a practitioner of competitive authoritarianism before his party lost in a landslide after 16 years. The loss was partly due to economic issues and corruption, demonstrating that even entrenched systems can face electoral defeat.