Democracy Repair Manual: A Call to Move Beyond Bipartisanship
In a historic turn of events, a vast number of Americans are voicing discontent, asserting that the two main political factions, Democrats and Republicans, have faltered to such an extent that a third party is imperative, as per recent polls.
Surging dissatisfaction with the entrenched two-party system reaches unprecedented levels, as revealed by the latest Gallup surveys, with a staggering 62 percent of the populace expressing dismay at the inability of Democrats and Republicans to aptly represent their interests, thus advocating for the emergence of a third political force.
Nevertheless, the entrenched zero-sum game and winner-takes-all dynamics entrenched in U.S. electoral processes present formidable hurdles for third-party ascension, despite data indicating that half of the populace doesn’t align with any established party, preferring the label of independents. This was underscored recently at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where former president Donald Trump dismissed the notion of establishing a new political entity to champion his brand of nationalist conservatism.
Echoing the voices calling for a paradigm shift are numerous scholars and some legislators who argue that the underlying flaw in the current system lies in its binary nature, which compresses the wide spectrum of political ideologies into just two camps. They emphasize that warnings of democratic erosion, largely attributed to the Republican Party’s departure from democratic norms, heighten the urgency for radical action: dismantling the hegemony of the Democratic and Republican parties.
Trapped in the Binary Stranglehold
The prevailing system, as elucidated by political scientist Lee Drutman in his work “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop,” is a product of historical accident, stemming from the simplicity of the majority-rule electoral method, where votes for alternative parties are essentially squandered.
Drutman explains, “With only two viable options, all voters are compelled to align themselves with one perspective, making it arduous to express their ambivalence.” This sentiment is mirrored in Pew Research Center surveys, which identify at least nine distinct political typologies in the nation, while Gallup polls indicate that less than 40 percent of the populace believes that the major parties adequately represent the American populace.
Matthew Shugart, a political science professor, posits that the United States operates under effectively three significant political fault lines. First, the Democratic/Republican schism divides the nation evenly. Second, the capitalist/socialist divide, exemplified by figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders advocating for a systemic overhaul. Third, and most pertinent in the post-Trump era, is the democratic/authoritarian chasm within the right-wing spectrum. This division delineates a pro-democracy faction spanning from center-left Democrats to moderate Republicans, juxtaposed with the Trumpian cohort willing to circumvent democratic principles and endorse political violence to further their agenda.
While the anti-democratic faction within the GOP constitutes a minority, it wields significant influence within the party, evident in the reluctance of most Republican lawmakers to acknowledge Joe Biden’s electoral victory and the majority of House Republicans’ attempt to overturn election results on the day of the Capitol insurrection.
“The imminent peril to American democracy lies in the dominance of an extremist anti-system faction within the Republican Party,” asserts Drutman. He underscores the predicament faced by individual members torn between upholding democratic principles and succumbing to the prevailing authoritarian trend within the party.
The Republican National Committee declined to comment on these observations despite repeated requests for input.
Echoes of Extremism Abroad
The prevalence of far-right, anti-democratic elements isn’t unique to the United States, yet in most other democracies, multiparty systems mitigate the risk posed by such factions. Countries like Ireland, Germany, and New Zealand feature center-right parties more inclined to collaborate with center-left counterparts than with their far-right counterparts.
Proportional Representation: A Path Forward
The notion of transcending two-party politics isn’t merely an academic pursuit. Members of Congress, led by centrist Democrat Rep. Don Beyer, are mulling over the Fair Representation Act, a legislative proposal aimed at achieving precisely that.
The act proposes the establishment of multi-member House districts in states with multiple representatives, entrusting the delineation of these districts to independent commissions to curtail gerrymandering. It also advocates for the adoption of ranked-choice voting, akin to Maine’s system, to empower voters in selecting their representatives.
Beyer emphasizes the potential of the proposed legislation to render the House more reflective of the nation’s demographics and engender greater stability in governance. However, he acknowledges the uphill battle ahead, noting that while the initiative aligns with the long-term interests of democracy, it may not serve the immediate political interests of incumbent lawmakers.
Amidst the backdrop of the Capitol insurrection and the escalating extremism within the GOP, Beyer stresses the imperative for change, lamenting the current trend where political primaries incentivize extremism at the expense of moderation.
Multi-Member Districts: A Paradigm Shift
The proposed multi-member districts herald a departure from the winner-takes-all model towards proportional representation, where parties secure congressional seats commensurate with their vote shares.
For instance, in a hypothetical district with a 60-40 Democratic-Republican split, transitioning to a multi-member system would ensure equitable representation, with both parties securing a proportional number of seats. This transformation ensures that every vote counts and fosters a more inclusive democratic process.
Moreover, such reforms tend to promote cross-party collaboration, incentivizing moderation and engendering greater stability in governance. Drutman asserts that the inherent flexibility of multi-member districts empowers voters to align with parties that resonate with their beliefs, thereby obviating the need to settle for the lesser of two evils.
Towards a Brighter Democratic Horizon
The adoption of proportional representation isn’t without its challenges, but its potential to revitalize democracy and foster political moderation makes it a compelling proposition. With mounting pressure on lawmakers to safeguard democratic principles and mitigate the influence of extremist factions, the time for substantive electoral reform is now.