Should we be afraid? As the United States prepares for a seismic presidential election, some believe that the result will shape the very future of democracy.
Nine days that will change the world
Should we be afraid? As the United States prepares for a seismic presidential election, some believe that the result will shape the very future of democracy.
It is Monday 28 October 2024. As you read this, there are eight frantic days of campaigning left until the United States of America goes to the polls. Next Tuesday, 5 November, many of the 244 million Americans eligible to vote will strike a box on a sheet of paper.
These pen strokes will determine who will serve as the country's next president: the moderate DemocratA member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party. Kamala Harris or her Republican PartyAlso known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum. rival Donald Trump. Whoever wins will shape the world enormously - for better or worse.
The American president is often nicknamed "leader of the free world". They lead the richest and most militarily powerful country on Earth. Their actions can affect the entire globe.
The two candidates represent an enormous clash of values. Harris supports abortionThe deliberate ending of a pregnancy. access, climate change policies and supporting America's NatoThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members. allies. Trump wants to shrink the government, deport immigrants and slap tariffsA form of tax on imports. on imports.
Many Americans and most states lean heavily towards one party. The election result is thus heavily dependent on seven swing statesIn the USA, states that sometimes vote for Republican presidential candidates and sometimes vote for Democrats. Which way the swing states go will decide who wins an election. . A handful of undecided voters in these key battlegrounds will decide the result.1
The winner will take office in January 2025, and serve for four years. The president has vast powers. They can nominate key officials. They have huge freedom to conduct foreign policy. They hold the buttons for America's nuclear arsenalCollection of weapons. .
Polling currently places the two neck and neck. A recent Washington Post poll put Harris at 49% of the vote against Trump on 48%.2
Many are terrified of a Trump victory. He has run a campaign full of lies, conspiracy theories and exaggerations - including the idea that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Trump has said he would be "dictatorA ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force. on day one", and that he could use soldiers to hunt down an "enemy from within", including Democratic politicians.3 He has claimed he will fire Jack Smith, the lawyer who is leading a case accusing Trump of election interference.4 And he says he will prosecute election officials.5
His foreign policies alarm other countries. He has previously praised authoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority. leaders Vladimir PutinRussia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West. and Xi JinpingThe president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life., and threatened to defund Nato. Presidential historian Jeffrey A. Engel writes: "A world increasingly riven by renewed great power rivalries and historic animosities is further weakened by Oval OfficeThe president's main office in the White House. instability".
Some think a Trump victory threatens democracy. Last week his own former chief of staff John Kelly called him a "fascistFollowing fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.". His own fans are also worried about a Harris term. A poll of voters for both parties found that 81% of adults believe democracy is under threat.6
Yet some think that Trump's electioneering is full of exaggerations. He is playing up to his extreme supporters now. But he will have to govern for the whole country. A second Trump term might be more mundane than we think.
And there are safeguards against the presidential power. CongressThe legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts. controls most laws, and can impeach a president. If the Democrats control at least one of the houses, Trump will find himself checked and challenged.
Should we be afraid?
Yes: Trump's first term was a chaotic trial run. If he returns this time, it will be at the head of a group of hardened acolytesOne who helps or follows another, especially in a religious context of those assisting a priest. who have already planned how they will use his term to reshape America.
No: America has already survived four years under Trump. It was bad for some people, but most Americans came out unscathed. Many crises - Afghanistan, Ukraine, Gaza - only exploded after he left office.
Or... A Trump victory will just be one more alarming moment in a world increasingly rife with strife and catastrophe. Trump will be the cherry on top.
Democrat - A member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Abortion - The deliberate ending of a pregnancy.
Nato - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members.
Tariffs - A form of tax on imports.
Swing states - In the USA, states that sometimes vote for Republican presidential candidates and sometimes vote for Democrats. Which way the swing states go will decide who wins an election.
Arsenal - Collection of weapons.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.
Vladimir Putin - Russia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.
Oval Office - The president's main office in the White House.
Fascist - Following fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.
Congress - The legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts.
Acolytes - One who helps or follows another, especially in a religious context of those assisting a priest.
Nine days that will change the world

Glossary
Democrat - A member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Abortion - The deliberate ending of a pregnancy.
Nato - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members.
Tariffs - A form of tax on imports.
Swing states - In the USA, states that sometimes vote for Republican presidential candidates and sometimes vote for Democrats. Which way the swing states go will decide who wins an election.
Arsenal - Collection of weapons.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.
Vladimir Putin - Russia’s ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.
Oval Office - The president's main office in the White House.
Fascist - Following fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.
Congress - The legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts.
Acolytes - One who helps or follows another, especially in a religious context of those assisting a priest.