In a webinar hosted by Portland State University’s Hatfield School of Government, Professor Theda Skocpol of Harvard University delivered a powerful lecture on the current threats facing American democracy, tracing the evolution of the Republican Party, the rise of authoritarian tendencies, and paths toward civic resistance. With an audience of faculty, students, policymakers, and community leaders, the event served as both a warning and a call to action.
Dr. Masami Nishishiba, Director of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, opened the session with warm remarks on the university’s commitment to public service and democratic resilience. She highlighted the school's academic offerings in public administration, reinforcing PSU’s role in shaping ethical and effective leaders in government.
The formal introduction of Professor Skocpol emphasized her remarkable career, including over 20 books, more than 20 major awards, and leadership roles in the American Political Science Association and Social Science History Association. Skocpol was praised not just for her scholarship, but for her mentorship, her engagement with ordinary Americans, and her founding of the Scholars Strategy Network which bridges academia and public discourse.
A Crisis of Governance
Professor Skocpol’s lecture, titled The Crisis of Democracy and the Role of Civic Institutions, unpacked the roots and rise of what she identified as a critical democratic backslide in the U.S. Rather than solely focusing on Donald Trump’s persona, Skocpol offered a broader analysis: the hollowing of the Republican Party and its takeover by elite-driven, extra-party networks, most notably the Koch political network.
These well-funded organizations, she explained, increasingly dictated party policy through sophisticated lobbying, state-level influence, and media strategies—undermining democratic representation and accountability. Over time, grassroots backlash merged with top-down elite agendas, forming a radicalized political force.
Skocpol distinguished between two stages: a “legalistic minority rule” embodied by Senator Mitch McConnell’s obstructionist governance, and a more aggressive, charismatic authoritarianism personified by President Trump. Trump, she argued, didn’t create this moment, but unified a fragmented movement that was already developing. With support from religious conservatives, law enforcement unions, and right-wing media, Trump built a coalition bent on suppressing diversity and opposing federal institutions.
She outlined how Trump's rise was bolstered not only by electoral quirks like the Electoral College but by public disengagement and institutional complicity. The fusion of radical ideology and institutional capture, she warned, poses a serious threat to both democratic norms and the administrative state.
Lessons from History—and the Road Ahead
Turning to historical and international examples, Skocpol likened today’s crisis to the rise of patrimonial rule in countries like Hungary and the fascist regimes of 1930s Europe. She cautioned that elites who believe they can control authoritarian leaders are often proven tragically wrong. The suppression of independent bureaucracies and the manipulation of civil society institutions, she said, are hallmarks of this dangerous political trajectory.
Yet Skocpol expressed hope—not from legal institutions, which she sees as compromised—but from organized civic action. She argued that resistance must come from citizen networks, state and local governments, and a reinvigoration of university-led public service. “Politics is about winning power and exercising it,” she reminded listeners. “Not about signaling that you are a saint.” She encouraged practical, community-based activism: town halls, local organizing, exposing threats to programs like Social Security and healthcare in ways that resonate with ordinary voters. Institutions such as law firms, universities, and associations must refuse to be isolated or co-opted. Instead, they must coordinate and take public stands.
The Role of Higher Education
In closing, Skocpol made a compelling plea to university leaders and educators: defend the fundamentals of democratic governance and civic education, without falling into partisanship. Professors, she said, must reach beyond academia to engage the broader public, especially in explaining how government actually works and why it matters.
State universities, she emphasized, hold a uniquely powerful role in this fight. They produce public servants, inform civic life, and shape future leaders. “When this episode ends—and it will end—states that have modeled effective governance will be the ones leading the reconstruction.”
The lecture ended on a hopeful yet realistic note. Skocpol believes America’s multi-racial democracy can survive—if citizens overcome fear, work together, and remain laser-focused on reclaiming power at every level. Civic institutions, especially public universities, will be central to this mission. As Dr. Nishishiba concluded the event, she invited attendees to remain engaged in the school’s upcoming public programs. The conversation with Professor Skocpol was not just a lecture—it was a blueprint for action, grounded in scholarship and driven by the urgent need to defend democracy.