The United States has long considered itself the world's bastion of democracy. However, independent analysis currently doesn't support that belief, and the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Democracy Index has rated the US a “flawed democracy” for the past several years. In this episode of Big World, SIS professor Agustina Giraudy joins us to discuss democratic backsliding in the US.

Professor Giraudy gives her take on whether the US's institutions proved durable or failed during the Trump years (1:29) and evaluates former President Trump’s treatment of the country’s bureaucracy, including the cronyism and the nepotism of his political appointees (3:54). She also discusses why Trump’s refusal to concede after losing the 2020 election was damaging to the democratic process (6:04) and why autocrats sow doubt on election results or discredit elections entirely (9:19).

What do the January 6 riot at the US Capitol and the subsequent acquittal of Trump by the US Senate mean for the US going forward (13:25)? What can President Biden and his administration do to help alleviate the damage done to American democracy during his predecessor's tenure (17:45)? Professor Giraudy answers these questions and explains what positively differentiates the US’s democracy from those of other countries evidencing democratic backsliding (20:21). She also describes the reforms and policies that can help reduce political polarization in the US (22:27).

During our “Take Five” segment, Professor Giraudy tells us the first five things she would do to help mend American democracy (11:39).