Democracy Dies in Darkness

Presidentialism, when paired with single-member districts, poses significant challenges. This combination encourages leaders to concentrate power by fostering division. Andy Craig, writing for The UnPopulist, explores these issues.

The UnPopulist is an independent outlet focused on defending liberal democracy against authoritarianism, both in the U.S. and worldwide. Craig, in his introduction to the Reconstruction Agenda, highlights historical concerns about political parties. Since the Constitutional Convention, Americans have struggled with the role of parties. While the Constitution’s framers distrusted parties, they still engaged with them. This has led to an ongoing tension between reliance on and skepticism of political parties.