Democracy in the US has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years. Key individuals in the Republican Party continue to peddle the Big Lie, and the US electorate is far more polarized today than it was in 2016. High inflation and gas prices are crowding out any good news about growth or unemployment. And the risk of further social division looms as issues like abortion rights and gun control rise to the top of the agenda.
The US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the persistence of the Big Lie, and social protest surrounding racial discrimination and inequality in America have impacted global perceptions of the US. Is international wariness about America’s ability to lead justified?
