The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies
English Summary
The article identifies 'democratic backsliding' as a global trend where elected leaders systematically undermine their own democratic systems to consolidate executive power. This decay is evidenced by leaders employing a common playbook: attacking or subverting core institutions such as the press, courts, civil service, and oversight bodies, thereby eroding the rule of law and public trust. While the threat is severe, the analysis concludes that democracy is not irreversible. Policy efforts must therefore focus on supporting institutional actors—including judges, civil servants, and whistleblowers—while emphasizing that the ultimate bulwark against antidemocratic threats remains the vigilance of the electorate and free elections.
中文摘要
本文將「民主衰退」界定為一種全球趨勢，指民選領導人系統性地削弱自身民主制度，以鞏固行政權力的行為。這種衰退的證據體現在領導人採用了一套共同的「劇本」：攻擊或顛覆媒體、司法、公務部門和監督機構等核心制度，從而侵蝕法治和公眾信任。儘管此威脅極為嚴重，但分析結論指出民主並非不可逆轉。因此，政策努力必須著重支持制度參與者——包括法官、公務員和吹哨人——同時強調，抵禦反民主威脅的最終防禦工事，仍是選民的警惕心和自由的選舉。
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