Washington is less able to lead calls for change
Election violence threatens the future of American democracy
Trump is currently under a federal investigation into his handling of classified documents.
AFP
The attack on the Capitol had profound repercussions on American society.
Reuters
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The occurrence of violence during or after the US elections, on previous occasions, raised fears that violence would erupt again, during the mid-term elections scheduled for November 8th.
"Violence during the election period undermines democracy in the United States, its relations with its allies, and its strength in front of its opponents, which raises fears of violence that will cast a shadow over the upcoming elections," said Jacob Ware, associate researcher on counterterrorism at the US Council on Foreign Relations.
In an analysis published by the US Council on Foreign Relations, Ware cited the four domestic terrorist attacks that rocked the United States in the two weeks leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, all of which, in different ways, sought to repeat a political message.
bombed mail
A fanatical supporter of President Donald Trump sent 16 parcel bombs to key figures from the Democratic Party and from the left, more broadly, with the aim of "intimidating and intimidating."
Days after the first parcel bombs were found, two black shoppers were killed by racist bullets at a Kroger retailer in Jefferson Town, Kentucky.
On October 27, a gunman killed 11 worshipers inside the "Tree of Life" synagogue in Petersburg, Pennsylvania.
The culprit was motivated by news reports that caravans of Central American immigrants were on their way to US soil.
At the beginning of November, a gunman motivated by the doctrine of "Insel" (involuntary celibacy) killed two people at a yoga practice in Tallahassee, Florida.
The 2020 elections and the period after them were also marred by violence, the most prominent of which was the attack on the US Capitol on January 6.
Ware notes that the 2016 US presidential election, won by Donald Trump, sparked a wave of hate attacks targeting minorities, with the Southern Poverty Law Center documenting 900 reports of "harassment and intimidation" in the 10 days following the election.
Trump's election and inauguration also triggered riots, which extended to Washington itself.
Former President Barack Obama's 2008 election campaign led to a torrent of hate crimes, including threats against him as a presidential candidate.
Warnings
Ware pointed to growing warnings from experts and government agencies of violence before and after the upcoming midterm elections, most of which may come from the far right, with issues often presented in existential terms, such as abortion and gun violence, not to mention looking at This election represents a referendum on former President Trump, who is currently the subject of a federal investigation into his handling of classified documents.
Ware stresses that political violence, before and after the US elections, will not only deter Americans from going to the polls, but may undermine democracy and stability in the United States through multiple means.
For starters, the violence in response to a disappointing outcome undermines the faith in American democracy, which is critical.
The repercussions of the attack on the Capitol were profound. A recent poll showed that only 38% of Americans believe that the losing party in the future presidential elections will withdraw quietly.
And 54 percent of respondents said the United States would be less democratic for future generations.
Moreover, violence in response to election results normalizes this violence as a legitimate form of political activism when it fails through the ballot box, and research indicates that the history of election violence is one of the risk factors for violence during the election period.
shattering trust
On the other hand, election violence shatters the confidence of America's allies in the country and destroys the United States' ability to promote liberal democracy abroad.
The attack on the Capitol was part of a broader global democratic trend in which election violence appears more frequent and leaves Washington less able to lead calls for change.
In fact, over the past years, the United States has been an exporter of extremism, provoking the trends that plague Washington's European allies, and other allies.
A recent global analysis focused on America's abandonment of the role of "leader of the free world", warning that there is a vacuum in front of other powers that will seek to fill it.
One analyst lamented, "America remains indispensable, because it is the world's largest military power, not because other countries look to it for guidance."
Election violence also weakens the image of the “indomitable” United States in the eyes of its opponents, whether they are countries like Russia, China and others, or non-state entities.
Proof of this can be found in the statements and actions of Moscow and Beijing.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also mocked the Capitol events and said, "I hope Americans can enjoy peace, stability and security as soon as possible."
Commitments
Jacob Ware points out that combating the possibility of violence during the next month, and the transitional period that follows, is critical, and requires a set of commitments from the Democratic and Republican parties.
What is most important is the concerted efforts of both sides to calm the existential political rhetoric and quell talk of violence.
Ware believes that both parties, especially Republicans, must also commit to accepting the election results, and to trust America, courageous election officials, and the rule of law, regardless of who wins.
Concluding the analysis, Ware says, “The events of history indicate that the next few months will be difficult with regard to extremism and terrorism in America, and it requires a sincere commitment from the Republican and Democratic parties to put America first, to ensure that the American elections will once again represent a standard of pride for America's allies and opponents alike.
The 2016 US presidential election, won by Donald Trump, sparked a wave of hate attacks targeting minorities, with the Southern Poverty Law Center documenting 900 reports of "harassment and intimidation" in the 10 days following the election.
Political violence, before and after US elections, will not only deter Americans from going to the polls, but may undermine democracy and stability in the United States through multiple means.
38%
Only Americans believe that the losing party in the future presidential elections will quietly withdraw.
And 54 percent of respondents said the United States would be less democratic for future generations.
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