The United States, the former British colony already rocked this year by ethnic conflict and mass protests over extrajudicial killings by police, may finally have a new leader after weeks of political turmoil following a disputed presidential election.
In the midst of the divisive election, the United States, known for its Dunkin’ Donuts-powered economy and for exporting its own brand of democracy, has been devastated by the covid-19 pandemic, which the beleaguered regime of Donald Trump has been unable to control, causing more than 240,000 Americans to die.
Ahead of the election — which triggered accusations of fraud and exposed the country’s dysfunctional electoral system — experts had warned that the United States, whose population is awash with guns, was at risk for political violence. But there’s been a tense calm as official results confirm that opposition challenger Joe Biden won; Trump, however, is refusing to leave power, and there are fears that the fractured nation might be pushed over the edge, destabilizing the Western Hemisphere.
Trump, the populist right-wing leader of the Republicans, has repeatedly cast doubt on the voting process, especially mail-in ballots. As mailed votes were counted and Trump lost his early lead, he demanded to “Stop the count!” Now, instead of beginning a peaceful transition process, Trump has hunkered down in the presidential palace.
The international community is watching with great concern. Leading observers wonder whether the United States is in the grips of an anti-constitutional seizure of power. “It’s not actually a coup unless it comes from the coup d’etat region of France,“ said writer Rémy Anne on Twitter. “Otherwise it’s just a sparkling authoritarian takeover.“
Some have said Trump’s bombastic authoritarianism and disregard for science makes him America’s first African president. “If this were happening in Africa, the West would have been threatening aid cuts and sanctions to Trump and his officials,” said Joseph G. Rawlings, a Ghanaian political scientist. “But in Africa we do not have an out-of-control pandemic, unlike America. From where I stand, comparing Trump to Africans is an insult — to Africans.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/14/how-western-media-would-cover-us-election-if-it-happened-another-country/