US democracy has repaired itself before. Here’s how we can do it again.
Vox
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
American democracy has undergone dramatic reforms every 60 years or so—during the 1770s, 1830s, 1900s, and 1960s—when insiders recognized the old order was failing and switched sides before collapse. Today’s political dysfunction mirrors historical patterns: low institutional trust, parties fighting past battles, and growing pressure from economic inequality, AI, climate change, and generational disaffection. The question isn’t whether reform is coming but what form it will take. Past reforms often bypassed parties, leading to hollow institutions captured by existing powers. This time, the focus must be on restructuring political parties themselves.
The article traces this pattern through history, highlighting how political systems resist change until cracks appear. Samuel Huntington’s “IvI gap” theory explains the tension between American ideals (liberty, equality) and institutions, which often fail to meet these values. Reforms emerge when this gap becomes intolerable, as seen in the Progressive Era and 1960s. These periods brought significant changes like direct primaries, the 17th Amendment, and civil rights legislation, but also created new challenges by shifting power dynamics.
The current moment resembles the late 1800s and 1960s, with polarization, economic dislocation, and institutional paralysis. Young voters are increasingly disenchanted, seeing little connection between their concerns and political processes. The article warns that without structural reforms—like proportional representation or expanding Congress—the two-party system will continue to fail, leaving unresolved issues like immigration and healthcare. The stakes are high: the next reform era could either expand democracy or deepen dysfunction.
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Originally published on Vox on 2/26/2026