MATTHEW MACWILLIAMS
Democracy or Authoritarianism:
Can a House Divided Against Itself Stand?
The future of democracy in a world confronting rising authoritarianism, falling support for democratic practices and institutions, and deepening public polarization and fear
ABOUT
Dr. Matthew C. MacWilliams is the Global Public Opinion Lead of the Foundation International Communications Hub, a newly established organization located in Spain and dedicated to the furtherance of civil society and democracy around the globe. The Foundation International is the successor, in part, of the American/European Society Research Project, which Dr. MacWilliams led. Dr. MacWilliams is also a Visiting Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, a Senior External Adviser to European Movement International in Brussels, and remains President of MacWilliams Sanders Communications
Dr. MacWilliams earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Massachusetts where he was a Visiting Research Associate and also lectured on democracy and participation in the international Civic Initiative program. His B.A. (Phi Beta Kappa) was earned at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar.
Through surveys and focus groups, Dr. MacWilliams has examined the roots of democratic deconsolidation and rise of illiberal politics in the United States and countries across Europe and Eurasia. He has conducted quantitative and qualitative research exploring this question in over 25 nations including the United States, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Armenia, Bulgaria, and Spain.
His studies have tested a wide range of explanations for the rise of illiberalism among citizens, including populism, hostile sexism, nationalism, ideology, globalism, inconsistent support for democracy and institutions, and authoritarianism. Most of his work has concluded that populism is not the main dispositional driver behind the rise of illiberal politics. Instead, authoritarianism -- activated by elite rhetoric, threat, and fear -- and democratic deconsolidation appear to be the common factors correlating with the emergence of political extremism in Europe and the United States.
IN 2016, before a vote was cast in the presidential primaries, Dr. MacWilliams warned American conservatives, moderates and liberals that his polling revealed Donald Trump’s activation of authoritarians would make Trump’s candidacy for the Republican nomination for president -- and the presidency itself -- virtually unstoppable.
His articles on Trump in POLITICO, the London School of Economics blog, and VOX sparked an international media debate that contributed to the framing of Trump and his tactics as authoritarian. His work was cited by leading media around the world including CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Washington Post, Newsweek, New York Times columnist David Brooks, NPR, CBC, The Atlantic, and Der Spiegel. [See: www.matthewmacwilliams.com/media-and-research for some of these stories, interviews, and a brief list of popular and academic writing.]
The Amherst College Press, Praeger Publishing, Political Science Quarterly, PS: Political Science and Politics, and the Academy of Political Science have published peer-reviewed articles of his work on democracy, polarization, and authoritarianism. St. Martins Press published his recent book on democracy and authoritarianism in the United States -- On Fascism: 12 Lessons from American History. Praising the book, Dr Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School, wrote: “The twelve lessons On Fascism draws from American history brilliantly complement those of Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny.”
Through speeches, presentations, and lectures Dr. MacWilliams has presented his work on the rise of authoritarianism and its implications for the future of democracy to elected officials and civil society leaders and activists across the United States, Europe, and Eurasia. He appears in the upcoming documentary #UNTRUTH: The War for Democracy.
AVAILABLE TALKS
Speech Topic #1: On Fascism: 12 Lessons from American History
Since America’s founding, there has been a perpetual tug-of-war between our aspirations toward a more perfect union and the authoritarian impulses that have coursed through our policy and politics. Only by confronting and reconciling this past, can America move forward into a future rooted in the motto of our Republic since 1782: e pluribus unum (out of many, one). Denial and division will not save the Republic but coming to terms with our history just might.
Speech Topic #2: America’s Authoritarian Spring: The Activation of American Authoritarians
The American authoritarian is one of those population blocs whose activation is a gateway drug to the demise of democracy. There are now ample warning signs that authoritarian-minded Americans have been activated by fearmongering and othering rhetoric, and that powerful democratic norms and institutions, which in theory exist to combat such forces, are frayed and threadbare. The question before all of us is: Can we stop the rot?
Speech Topic #3: We have Met the Enemy, and He is Us
There is an eye-popping gap between the universal values, beliefs, and attitudes Americans are reputed to hold and our actual commitment to democratic principles and ideals. Exploring data from recent national polls and qualitative studies, the scope of this gap is revealed item-by-item and our responsibility as citizens to bridge it outlined.
Speech Topic #4: The Demographic Challenge to Democracy Posed by Younger Americans
Support for the foundational elements of representative democracy (for example, free and fair elections) is “weaker among younger voters” in the United States and Europe. Moreover, in country-after-country surveyed, consistent support for democracy among younger citizens (18-29 years of age) was statistically lower than older citizens. These disquieting facts represent a clear and present challenge to the future of democracy in the West and underlies the growing trend toward democratic deconsolidation in the United States and Europe. The question is: why are younger people, and especially younger Americans, less likely to support democracy? And, of course, what can we do to fix this problem?
Speech Topic #5: Rebooting Democracy: “A Republic: If You Can Keep It.”
Public support for democracy continues to fall in the United States. This trend is exacerbated by shockingly low levels of support among 18-29 year old Americans. What must be done to reboot democracy and make it relevant to younger Americans? To Keep Our Democracy, We Must Reboot It.
testimonials
“To prevent the ravages of fascism it’s essential to understand its roots in our national character and experience. The twelve lessons On Fascism draws from American history brilliantly complement those of Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny.”
– Laurence Tribe, the Carl M. Loeb University Professor and Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School
“It is comforting to assume our nation is built on a secure foundation that protects our right to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' But far from being on solid ground, we are instead walking a precarious tightrope with no net except our better angels. As MacWilliams shows, authoritarian demagogues and a frightening portion of the public have always been willing and eager to tear away the balance pole of reason and push democracy into the abyss. By showing the failures of the past and the present, this accessible, alarming, and insightful work is a much needed reality check and counterweight to the resurgent extremism of our times.”
– Former Congressman, Brian Baird, PhD
“MacWilliams guides readers in understanding how authoritarianism, through fear and ignorance, has shaped U.S. history, and will continue to do so if not properly addressed.... Written in a pithy manner, this is both a solemn reminder of America's unreckoned and yet celebrated past, and a course for a better future.”
– Booklist Review