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In recent years, some people have started asking an important question: Is the United States moving away from true democracy? To answer that, we can look at what happened in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His leadership has been a model of something called illiberal democracy--and it offers a warning for Americans today.
Illiberal democracy is when a country holds elections, but the government doesn't fully respect people's rights, free speech, or the rule of law. The leader might be elected, but then they start acting more like a dictator. In this system, laws and freedoms are slowly weakened--even though voting still takes place.
The term was first used by writer Fareed Zakaria in 1997 to describe this dangerous mix of democracy and authoritarianism.
In Turkey, Erdogan changed the country's system so he could have more power. He took control of courts, used emergency powers, and even jailed political opponents. In the U.S., presidents don't have that kind of personal power--but some have tried to stretch their authority, especially during emergencies or political fights.
Even though American leaders still face limits, we've seen attempts to weaken those limits in recent years.
In Turkey, journalists and critics are often jailed. The government shuts down media outlets that don't agree with it. In contrast, the United States has a strong tradition of free speech. But lately, people have started to question the media, call news they dislike 'fake,' and push for censorship on social platforms. While these actions aren't as extreme as in Turkey, they can damage trust and freedom over time.
Elections still happen in both countries--but how fair are they?
In Turkey, opposition parties face threats, and the government controls much of the media. In the U.S., elections are mostly free, but things like voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and misinformation make it harder for some people to vote fairly. The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, also showed how dangerous it is when election results are questioned without evidence.
A strong democracy needs independent judges. After a failed coup in 2016, Turkey removed thousands of judges and gave more control to the president. In the U.S., courts are still independent, but some people worry they are becoming too political--especially when Supreme Court nominations seem more about party loyalty than the law.
In Turkey, protests are often stopped with violence, and political parties that challenge the president are banned or punished. In the U.S., protests like Black Lives Matter have been allowed, even though some faced harsh responses. America still has active political opposition and many civic organizations, but some states have passed laws making it harder to protest or organize.
Turkey today is ruled in a way that looks democratic on paper--but in practice, power is highly concentrated, and freedoms are limited.
The U.S. is not at that point. We still have checks and balances, a free press, and strong civil institutions. But warning signs are appearing: attacks on election trust, increased political division, and efforts to weaken democratic norms.
If we want to stay a strong democracy, we must protect the things that make it work: fair elections, honest courts, free speech, and active civic participation.
Freedom isn't just something we have--it's something we protect. Learning from Turkey's experience shows how quickly democracy can slip away. To keep ours strong, every citizen, leader, and institution must stand up for the rights, rules, and values that define a free society.
Signed, Cyrus Vox
Who Is Cyrus Vox