Thread by @johnastoehr

When we say the president is a threat to democracy, democratic norms, democratic values, etc., what we’re really saying is that he’s a threat to liberal democracy, liberal democratic norms, liberal democratic values, etc.

stoehr.substack.com/p/republic-dem…

2. Liberals tend to think of it as synonymous with liberalism, but they really are not the same thing. I mean, Turkey is a democracy, but it’s autocratic. Same with the Philippines. Same with Russia. Same with a host of countries.

3. If democracy means popular sovereignty with members of the political community being ostensible “equal,” that could fit any number of regimes, some of which we’d never call democratic, like Stalinist Russia. Democracies, IOW, can be terrible horrible no good very bad.

4. With respect to Donald Trump, I think what we’re really taking about isn’t democracy.

5. When we say the president is a threat to democracy, democratic norms, democratic values, etc., what we’re really saying is that he’s a threat to liberal democracy, liberal democratic norms, liberal democratic values, etc.

6. This is important to bear in mind, as voter suppression and conservative jurisprudence are being used to create an illiberal democracy in America—i.e., minority rule.

7. So far both tactics are unpopular to a degree that suggests love of liberal democracy remains strong. It’s just not in charge at the moment.

8. 'Republic,' 'democracy,' and 'liberal democracy' @johnastoehr stoehr.substack.com/p/republic-dem…