The Paradox of Democracy: Trump and APNU

Jan 27, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

---

Kaieteur News – The United States and Guyana have witnessed a curious political phenomenon — the enduring support for Donald Trump and the APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) respectively, despite controversies and attempts to upturn the democratic process.  After what took place in elections the United States and Guyana in 2020, one hardly expected that both Trump and the APNU would have enjoyed any meaningful support.

But in the United States, Trump is on course, amazingly, to return to the White House next January. In Guyana, the APNU, instead of being decimated by its attempt to benefit from rigged elections, has enjoyed credible support in the last local government elections.

So what are the factors that drive such unwavering loyalty by supporters of both Trump and the APNU? What motivates such staunch support for forces that have consistently been accused to undermining democratic principles?

Donald Trump’s candidacy and presidency have been marked by controversy, polarization, and an unprecedented challenge to democratic norms. Despite his tumultuous term and the attempt to overturn the election result in 2020, a substantial portion of the American electorate continues to rally behind him.

One plausible explanation lies in the deep-seated grievances and frustrations that a significant portion of the American population feels. Economic disparities, cultural anxieties, and a perceived neglect by the political establishment have fueled a sense of disenchantment among many in the United States.

Trump’s populist rhetoric, coupled with promises of economic revival and a return to a perceived “golden age,” resonates strongly with these disaffected voters. In their eyes, Trump represents a disruptive force against a system they perceive as corrupt and detached from their concerns.

Moreover, the tribal nature of American politics has contributed to the polarization, with supporters aligning themselves more with a personality than a political ideology. This loyalty transcends policy decisions, overlooking controversies and norm violations in favor of an ‘us versus them’ mentality.

The attempt to overturn the 2020 elections, fueled by unfounded claims of fraud, became a rallying point for Trump supporters who saw it as a last stand against an establishment they mistrust. And so the loyalty remains regardless of the threat to democracy.

In Guyana, the APNU garnered significant support in the last local government elections. Despite the five-month long shenanigans to benefit from the attempt to rig the 2020 general and regional elections and the shame and disgrace this brought to the country, a large portion of the electorate chose to rally behind the APNU. This, too, begs the question of what motivates voters to support a party that has a track record of electoral malfeasance.

In the context of Guyana, ethnic divisions play a pivotal role in shaping political allegiances. Also, the distrust and resentment towards the PPPC government become powerful catalysts for rallying support, overshadowing concerns about democratic norms and even performance when in government.

The case of Trump in the United States and the APNU in Guyana, however, reflect a deeper crisis in democratic systems. It highlights the susceptibility of voters to appeals based on emotion, identity, and grievances rather than a nuanced evaluation of policy positions and commitment to democratic values.

Democracy relies on an informed and engaged electorate making rational choices based on the principles of representation and governance. The current trends, however, indicate a vulnerability to charismatic leaders and parties that tap into the fears and insecurities of citizens, even if it means subverting democratic processes.

The support for Trump in the United States and the APNU in Guyana raises critical concerns about the state of democracy in both America and Guyana. It exposes the fragility of democratic ideals when faced with the allure of populist leaders and parties that exploit divisions and insecurities.

The political situation in both Guyana and the United States and the ease with which leaders can manipulate the fears and insecurities of their constituents is troubling in this the 21^st century. The rise of political extremism and autocratic political leadership in the United States poses the greatest threat to democracy ever in the United States. And in Guyana APNU’s brazen attempt to turn back the political clock to a bygone era has raised fears about whether Guyana’s democracy has any chance of survival.

In Guyana, the fact that what matters is winning regardless of how one wins, is  a serious blow to democratic norms. In 2020, the Donald Trump administration told the Granger government to step aside. This was before the mayhem in the November 2020 American Presidential elections and the storming of the Capitol in January 2021.

If Trump wins this year’s elections, will he have the moral authority to ensure respect for democratic norms in Guyana’s 2025 elections? If he does not, then where does this leave Guyana, which has an Opposition which shows no remorse over its conduct between March and August 2020?

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

---

• controversies, Donald Trump, Guyana, Peeping Tom, United States

---