America’s election is mired in conflict
Donald Trump’s conspiracy machine is already gearing up for election night
Even without Donald Trump on the ballot, American elections tend to create conflict. America is the only proper presidential democracy in which the person who wins the most votes does not necessarily win power. The two-month gap between voting and election certification in Congress is the most drawn-out anywhere. Complexity invites legal challenges, which add to the complexity. For all those reasons, American elections demand patience and trust. Unfortunately, the country comes joint last among the G7 on trust in the judiciary and dead last on belief that its elections are honest.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “How ugly will it get?”
From the September 14th 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDiscover more
A map of a fruit fly’s brain could help us understand our own
A miracle of complexity, powered by rotting fruit
Dismantling Google is a terrible idea
Despite its appeal as a political rallying cry
Socially liberal and strong on defence, Japan’s new premier shows promise
But he must ditch his more eccentric ideas if he is to control his party
Don’t celebrate China’s stimulus just yet
It will take more than a spectacular stockmarket rally to revive the economy
The year that shattered the Middle East
Kill or be killed is the region’s new logic. Deterrence and diplomacy would be better
YouTube’s do-it-yourself brigade is taking on Netflix and Disney
Legions of self-taught film-makers are coming for the television industry