It was not unusual for figures such as Coughlin, Long, McCarthy, and Wallace to gain the support of a sizable minority - 30 or even 40 percent - of the country. We often tell ourselves that America's national political culture in some way immunizes us from such appeals, but this requires reading history with rose-colored glasses. The real protection against would-be authoritarians has not been Americans' firm commitment to democracy but, rather, the gatekeepers - our political parties.
In the book "How Democracies Die," author Steven Levitsky discusses how certain political figures, like Coughlin, Long, McCarthy, and Wallace, have attracted significant segments of the American population, often garnering support from 30 to 40 percent. This suggests that the idea that American political culture inherently protects against authoritarianism may be overly optimistic. Rather than a strong democratic commitment, the real safeguard appears to be the political parties acting as gatekeepers in the political landscape.
Levitsky's argument challenges the notion that Americans are naturally resistant to extremist ideologies by pointing out that historical patterns show otherwise. The role of political parties is crucial in maintaining democratic integrity, as they help filter out extremist candidates and ideas from gaining traction within the broader electorate. This highlights the importance of institutional guardrails in preserving democracy, rather than relying solely on public sentiment or historical assumptions.
