New Books Network The attack on democracy in the United States, and the new resistance
Jul 3, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Carl LeVan, Professor and Chair of Politics, Governance, and Economics at American University, delves into the deepening threats to democracy in the U.S. under Trump. He highlights the government’s efforts to suppress critical voices across various institutions from law firms to universities. LeVan discusses the emergence of new resistance movements and coalitions formulating outside traditional structures, as well as the challenges faced in mobilizing public action ahead of upcoming elections. A timely exploration of democracy and civic engagement!
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US Shifts to Protect Democracy Domestically
- The US is transitioning from promoting democracy abroad to protecting it at home, experiencing a closure of political space across many sectors.
- Attacks target scientific knowledge, higher education, and the nonprofit sector, undermining civil society's heartbeat.
Assault on Knowledge Infrastructure
- Attacks aim to dismantle independent knowledge creation and critical institutional thinking to limit checks and balances.
- Scientific research grants are cut, data erased, and the scientific peer review process undermined in the US.
Culture War as Power Strategy
- The project to hold power extends beyond governance to cultural transformation, rewriting America's story via education and cultural institutions.
- Efforts include patriotic education mandates and control over cultural bodies like the Kennedy Center and Librarian of Congress.
