“The Threat of a Fascistic Turn in American Politics: Examining the Possibility of Democracy Being on the Line During the 2024 US Election Cycle”

Since January 6, 2021, the former US President, Donald Trump, has 1) been impeached by Congress; 2) been the subject of a long and critical Congressional investigation; and 3) become embroiled in a number of criminal and civil legal processes. Nonetheless, he is leading in the Republican electoral primary and intends to be the Republican nominee for the presidential election in November, 2024. This has generated mounting suggestions from the Democratic Party and beyond that during the upcoming election, ‘democracy will be on the line’, and that the possibility of a fascistic turn in American politics is now very real. Is democracy itself in peril during the upcoming US election cycle, and would a right-wing victory result introduce fascistic elements into US politics? Why or why not?