95bFM Concerns US authoritarianism could increase during Trump’s second administration — academic
9 December, 2024
Interview by Yesenia Pineda, adapted by Imogene Bedford
Associate Professor of Global Studies at the University of Auckland, Chris Ogden, says Donald Trump’s second presidential term will be informed by autocratic and anti-democratic sentiment.
Former US President, Donald Trump, will return for a second term in the Oval Office next month, the second US president to win a non-consecutive election, following his win over Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
Trump won 312 electoral college votes in the recent election, claiming that his incoming administration will usher in a new “golden age of America.”
However, the election has reignited fears amongst opponents about a promised crackdown on political and ethnic minorities.
Associate Professor of Global Studies at the University of Auckland, Chris Ogden, told 95bFM’s The Wire he anticipates the US will experience a rise in authoritarianism when Trump comes into power.
He says this could involve attacks on minorities, the political abuse of judicial power, and increasing constraints on rights.
“One of the aims is to shut down political opposition, but also to shut down anyone willing to criticise, or wants to criticise, what the government is doing — even in a constructive manner.”
Trump has already promised to enact “retribution” against his political critics. In October, he suggested he might employ the US military against “radical, left lunatics”.
“I think he will target anyone who’s ever criticised him in the media, but also academia, any kind of walk of life that you could imagine,” Ogden says.
With Trump expected to appoint allies to the judiciary in the new year, Ogden says the president’s opponents may even be at risk of punishment.
He claims the global repercussions of these anti-democratic ideas will be far-reaching; normalising authoritarian ideas in other countries.
“For your average autocrat, they will be able to get away with a lot more, because that will be the kind of common way of doing things.”
Ogden believes some respect for political rights will remain, but is concerned about the repercussions of Trump’s soon-to-be presidency.
“I think the main thing from my side would be that those rights are being constrained, or being threatened.”
