Assessing the State of U.S. Democracy, Rule of Law, and social cohesion

Authors: Jessica Baumgardner-Zuzik, Shaziya DeYoung, Liz Hume, Theo Sitther

Publisher: Alliance for Peacebuilding

Publication date: December 2022

Abstract: Due to the increasing conflict and political violence in the United States in early 2022, the Alliance for Peacebuilding has been increasingly concerned about the growing conflict dynamics in the US. This report presents findings from 160+ leading peacebuilding and conflict experts to the Assessing the State of Democracy, Social Cohesion, and Rule of Law in the U.S. survey conducted by the Alliance for Peacebuilding between November 2021 – January 2022. The top line findings from this survey show Americans have escalating conflict dynamics.

Contents:

Key Findings  ii

1        Introduction  1

2 Materials and Methods

• Survey  1

• Participants 2 

• Data Analysis 3

• Data Interpretation  4

• Limitations  6

3        Findings 

• Democratic Significance and State of Conflict in the U.S. 6

• General Perceptions on Democracy, Social Cohesion, and

  Rule of Law in the U.S. 7

  (i) Political Participation 9

  (ii) Government Efficiency 11

  (iii) Fundamental Rights 13

  (iv) Media Integrity 15

  (v) Distribution of Political Power 17

  (vi) Access to Basic Public Services 19

  (viii) Trust in Political Groups and Institutions 21

• Elections and Potential for Violence 23

• Impact of Government Responses to COVID-19 on Respondent’s Answers 24

• Solutions for Strengthening Democracy and Preventing Conflict in the U.S.  24

4        Conclusion 26   

5        Technical Appendix 28

About the Authors:

Jessica Baumgardner-Zuzik is the Deputy Executive Director - Research & Finance at the Alliance for Peacebuilding.

Shaziya DeYoung is the Learning and Evidence Researcher at the Alliance for Peacebuilding.

Liz Hume is the Executive Director at the Alliance for Peacebuilding

Theo Sitther is the Senior Fellow for Legislative Policy at the Alliance for Peacebuilding