The ANNALS

The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, can easily be viewed as the culmination of various threats to American democracy that have been building in our nation for years. Our republic may soon face a resurgence of these threats, as we enter another contentious presidential election between the same candidates that faced off in the last election.

This volume assesses the severity of these threats, examines how we have come to this inflection point in American history, and suggests possible strategies for creating a safer and more inclusive democratic future in the U.S. It concludes that American democracy is facing serious threats that might substantially undermine the basic tenets of our system of government, but it also offers reasons for optimism as we grapple with these critical challenges.