The American republic teeters on the edge of authoritarianism. One party (and there are only two) embraces nativism, flirts with white supremacy, blinks away mass killings, won’t accept the results of the last election, and is frenetically changing the election rules to ensure it does not lose again. But here’s the unexpected twist: almost none of this is new. Coups, racial violence nativist lynching changing the rules, stealing elections and dragging God into politics are all longstanding themes in US politics.

James Morone puts the current state of US politics into historical perspective and shows what’s new and what is not. He explains how old patterns have taken on new forms, suggests what other nations might learn from American agonies, and reflects on the prospects for democracy in the years ahead.