{{short description|Concept critical to establishing democratic governments}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} A '''peaceful transition''' or '''transfer of power''' is a concept important to [[democracy|democratic]] governments in which the leadership of a government peacefully hands over control of government to a newly elected leadership. This may be after elections or during the transition from a different kind of political regime, such as the [[post-communist]] period after the [[fall of the Soviet Union]].<ref name=":1" />
In scholarship examining [[democratization]] and emerging democracies, study of the successful transitions of power is used to understand the transition to [[constitutional democracy]] and the relative stability of that government.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> A 2014 study concluded that 68 countries had never had a peaceful transition of power due to an election since 1788.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==Democratization studies== In scholarship examining [[democratization]] and emerging democracies, study of the successful transitions of power is used to understand the transition to [[constitutional democracy]] and the relative stability of that government ([[democratic consolidation]]).<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Graham|first=Emmanuel|date=July 2017|title=The Third Peaceful Transfer of Power and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana|url=https://www.jpanafrican.org/docs/vol10no5/10.5-8-Graham.pdf|journal=Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies|volume=10|issue=5|pages=99–127|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=11 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711212222/http://www.jpanafrican.org/docs/vol10no5/10.5-8-Graham.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Tamarkin|first=M.|date=1979|title=From Kenyatta to Moi: The Anatomy of a Peaceful Transition of Power|journal=Africa Today|volume=26|issue=3|pages=21–37|jstor=4185874|issn=0001-9887}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Mangu|first=Andre Mbata B.|date=1 June 2004|title=DR Congo: the long road from war to peace and challenges for peaceful transition and national reconstruction|url=https://journals.co.za/content/afrins/34/2_3/EJC17396|journal=Africa Insight|language=en|volume=34|issue=2_3|pages=31–38|issn=0256-2804|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143212/https://journals.co.za/content/afrins/34/2_3/EJC17396/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Ahmed|first=Jasem Mohamad|date=2012|title=Democracy and the problem of peaceful transfer of power|url=https://www.iasj.net/iasj/article/39844|journal=Journal of Al-Frahedis Arts|language=en|volume=04|issue=10|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143217/https://www.iasj.net/iasj/article/39844/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A 2014 study by [[Adam Przeworski]] of 3,000 elections from 1788 to 2008, published in the journal ''[[Comparative Political Studies]]'' concluded that 68 countries (including Russia and China) had never had a peaceful transition of power between [[Political parties|parties]] following an election, making it a "rare and a recent practice."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Przeworski|first=Adam|date=1 January 2015|title=Acquiring the Habit of Changing Governments Through Elections|journal=Comparative Political Studies|language=en|volume=48|issue=1|pages=101–129|doi=10.1177/0010414014543614| s2cid=154441890 |issn=0010-4140}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=26 November 2014|title=Peaceful transitions of power have been rare in modern states, but once the habit has been acquired it sticks|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2014/11/26/peaceful-transitions-of-power-have-been-rare-in-modern-states-but-once-the-habit-has-been-acquired-it-sticks/|access-date=25 September 2020|website=EUROPP|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143141/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2014/11/26/peaceful-transitions-of-power-have-been-rare-in-modern-states-but-once-the-habit-has-been-acquired-it-sticks//|url-status=live}}</ref> The same study found that once a country has an initial peaceful transfer of power (an "alternation"), it is very likely to keep doing so, making the peaceful transition of power a habit-forming activity.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In a stable institutionalized democracy, a peaceful transition is the expected outcome of an election.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
Peaceful transitions require a number of strong [[democratic institution]]s and norms to exist, such as the willingness of opposition parties to serve as a [[loyal opposition]]. Transitions by election put power holders in vulnerable positions, as not only do they risk potential changes in policy and practice and thus their means of power, but they also risk political retribution or retaliation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sutter|first=Daniel|date=1995|title=Settling Old Scores: Potholes along the Transition from Authoritarian Rule|journal=The Journal of Conflict Resolution|volume=39|issue=1|pages=110–128|doi=10.1177/0022002795039001005|jstor=174324| s2cid=145445935 |issn=0022-0027}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
==By region== The first peaceful transition of power in a country is often treated as an important stage in a government transition towards democracy such as seen in [[elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1 February 2017|title=First peaceful transfer of power possible in the DRC: regional focus - East Africa|url=https://journals.co.za/content/journal/10520/EJC-55c9a84d1|journal=Africa Conflict Monitor|language=en|volume=2017|issue=Feb 2017|pages=35–39|issn=2311-6943|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143236/https://journals.co.za/content/journal/10520/EJC-55c9a84d1/|url-status=live}}</ref> Successful transitions during tense political moments such as the [[Velvet Revolution (Armenia)|Velvet Revolution in Armenia]] in 2018 are interpreted as signs of improved governance within the country, an important milestone in democratization and functioning civil society.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Yayloyan|first=Diana|date=28 February 2019|title=A Peaceful Transition of Power and Public's Expectations in Armenia|url=https://think-asia.org/handle/11540/10015|language=en|journal=Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey|via=Think-Asia|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143251/https://think-asia.org/handle/11540/10015/|url-status=live}}</ref> Alternately, the lack of peaceful transfers of power, such as in [[Elections in Georgia (country)|elections in Georgia]] from 1995 to 2008 in which the only transition between presidents was via the 2003 [[Rose Revolution]], may harm the international reputation of the country as a "democracy".<ref name="Georgia_2012_parliament" />
===Africa=== Since the [[decolonization of Africa]], decolonised countries in [[Africa]] had a mixed record in achieving peaceful transitions of power.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=O'Hanlon |first1=Michael |last2=Brigety |first2=Reuben |last3=Opalo |first3=Ken |date=November 27, 2018 |title=Power transitions in Africa |url=https://www.brookings.edu/events/power-transitions-in-africa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911173344/https://www.brookings.edu/events/power-transitions-in-africa/ |archive-date=11 September 2021 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Brookings}}</ref>
The first peaceful transition of power between civilians in [[Nigeria]] took place in 2007, although the outgoing and incoming presidents were of the same party and the preceding election was characterized by widespread irregularities.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 30, 2007 |title=A First in Nigeria: A Peaceful Succession of Power |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/world/africa/30nigeria.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911174550/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/world/africa/30nigeria.html |archive-date=11 September 2021 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2018, [[Liberia]] had its first electoral transfer of power since 1944.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Husted |first=Tomas F. |date=February 14, 2020 |title=Liberia: Background and U.S. Relations |url=https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/R46226.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911175556/https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/R46226.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2021 |website=Congressional Research Service |page=5}}</ref> The first peaceful transition of power in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] took place in 2019, with outgoing president [[Joseph Kabila]] yielding power to opposition leader [[Felix Tshisekedi]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Congo president marks first peaceful transfer of power |work=Christian Science Monitor |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2019/0124/New-Congo-president-marks-first-peaceful-transfer-of-power |first1= Saleh |last1=Mwanamilongo |agency=Associated Press |date=January 24, 2019 |access-date=2023-08-10 |issn=0882-7729 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911173454/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2019/0124/New-Congo-president-marks-first-peaceful-transfer-of-power |url-status=live }}</ref> The first transition of power from one democratically elected leader to another in [[Niger]] took place in 2021, following a long history of [[coup d'état|coups d'etat]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mamane |first=Dalatou |date=April 2, 2021 |title=Niger inaugurates president in 1st democratic power transfer |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-8ac9e1c7a2c62bfe8395d966b8199888 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911173348/https://apnews.com/article/constitutions-africa-niamey-west-africa-mali-8ac9e1c7a2c62bfe8395d966b8199888 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |access-date= |website=Associated Press}}</ref> followed by [[2023 Nigerien coup d'état|another military coup]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=Niger's president 'held by guards' in apparent coup attempt |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/26/soldiers-holding-niger-president-inside-palace-security-sources |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>
===Europe=== ====Georgia==== {{see also|Democratic backsliding in Georgia}} The transfer of power resulting from the [[2012 Georgian parliamentary election]] was considered an important case of peaceful transfer of power in the post-Soviet political development of Georgia, which, since the Soviet period, had earlier gone through changes such as the [[Rose Revolution]] in 2003.<ref name="Georgia_2012_parliament">{{Cite journal|title=Peaceful transfer of political power and its characteristics in Georgia. The Georgian parliamentary elections of 2012|url=https://ibn.idsi.md/en/vizualizare_articol/45776|access-date=25 September 2020|website=Instrument Bibliometric National |last1=Giorgi |first1=Benashvili }}</ref>
===North America=== ====United States==== {{See also|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|Democratic backsliding in the United States}} A peaceful transition of power has been the norm in [[United States presidential transition]]s. The [[1800 United States presidential election|transition]] from [[John Adams]] to [[Thomas Jefferson]] in 1801 was considered an important milestone for the country's fledgling democracy, and was the first time the presidency was handed over to a political opponent. All elections except [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]] have resulted in peaceful transitions of power where the losing party "willingly and peacefully" relinquished power to the opposition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pruitt |first=Sarah |date=17 September 2020 |title=How the Peaceful Transfer of Power Began With John Adams |url=https://www.history.com/news/peaceful-transfer-power-adams-jefferson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114214733/https://www.history.com/news/peaceful-transfer-power-adams-jefferson |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 January 2021 |title=All 10 living former defense secretaries: Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/10-former-defense-secretaries-military-peaceful-transfer-of-power/2021/01/03/2a23d52e-4c4d-11eb-a9f4-0e668b9772ba_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106223350/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/10-former-defense-secretaries-military-peaceful-transfer-of-power/2021/01/03/2a23d52e-4c4d-11eb-a9f4-0e668b9772ba_story.html |archive-date=6 January 2021 |access-date=6 January 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> The transition is institutionalized through symbolic acts like the [[United States presidential inauguration|presidential inaugurations]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 November 2016|title=Peaceful Transition of Power|url=https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/inaugurations|access-date=25 September 2020|website=National Archives|language=en|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143318/https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/inaugurations/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Fortin |first=Jacey |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Trump Is Not the First President to Snub an Inauguration |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/presidents-who-skipped-inaugurations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125024141/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/presidents-who-skipped-inaugurations.html |archive-date=25 January 2021 |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Outgoing U.S. presidents traditionally attend the inaugurations of their successors, a symbol of the peaceful passage of power from one administration to the next.<ref>{{Cite web |author-first1=Joey|author-last1=Garrison|title=A president hasn't refused to attend the inauguration of his successor in 152 years. Donald Trump will change that |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/08/trump-first-outgoing-president-skip-inauguration-152-years/6596286002/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616200731/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/08/trump-first-outgoing-president-skip-inauguration-152-years/6596286002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This concept of "loser's consent" plays a vital role in maintaining democratic stability:<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027162241229309 | doi=10.1177/00027162241229309 | title=Political Parties and Loser's Consent in American Politics | date=2023 | last1=Layman | first1=Geoffrey | last2=Lee | first2=Frances | last3=Wolbrecht | first3=Christina | journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science | volume=708 | pages=164–183 | url-access=subscription }}</ref> political parties in the U.S. have come to accept electoral defeat as part of the democratic process, reinforcing the idea that the legitimacy of the electoral system depends on the willingness of political actors to adhere to its outcomes.
In 2020, incumbent Republican President [[Donald Trump]] publicly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost his reelection bid.<ref>{{cite web|last=Breuninger|first=Kevin|date=23 September 2020|title=Trump won't commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/23/trump-wont-commit-to-peaceful-transfer-of-power-if-he-loses-the-election.html|access-date=25 September 2020|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009143328/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/23/trump-wont-commit-to-peaceful-transfer-of-power-if-he-loses-the-election.html/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was defeated in the 2020 election by [[Joe Biden]] in both the popular vote and the [[United States Electoral College|electoral vote]], but refused to [[Concession (politics)|accept defeat]]. Trump falsely claimed election fraud, initiated a [[United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack public hearings#7PartPlan|seven-part plan]] to overturn the election, and engaged in an aggressive and unprecedented<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Anita |last1=Kumar |first2=Gabby |last2=Orr |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/21/trump-pressure-campaign-overturn-election-449486 |newspaper=Politico |title=Inside Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the election |date=December 21, 2020 |quote=Trump's efforts to cling to power are unprecedented in American history. While political parties have fought over the results of presidential elections before, no incumbent president has ever made such expansive and individualized pleas to the officials who oversee certification of the election results. |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222010353/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/21/trump-pressure-campaign-overturn-election-449486 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=David E. |last=Sanger |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-election.html |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Trump's Attempts to Overturn the Election Are Unparalleled in U.S. History |date=November 19, 2020 |quote=President Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election are unprecedented in American history and an even more audacious use of brute political force to gain the White House than when Congress gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency during Reconstruction. |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120013100/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|campaign to remain in power]].<ref>Multiple sources: *{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-local-elections-arizona-7174555c2545f8afb69f0ce2ac0b2156 |first1=Zeke |last1=Miller |first2=Colleen |last2=Long |first3=David |last3=Eggert |title=Trump tries to leverage power of office to subvert Biden win |date=November 20, 2020 |website=Associated Press |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128185032/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-local-elections-arizona-7174555c2545f8afb69f0ce2ac0b2156 |url-status=live}} *{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html |title=Trump Targets Michigan in His Ploy to Subvert the Election |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |first2=Jim |last2=Rutenberg |first3=Nick |last3=Corasaniti |first4=Reid J. |last4=Epstein |date=November 20, 2020 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202011626/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html |url-status=live}} *{{Cite web |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-presses-georgia-governor-to-help-subvert-election-11607207645 |url-access=subscription |date=December 5, 2020 |title=Trump presses Georgia governor to help subvert election |agency=Associated Press |website=MarketWatch |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201032/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-presses-georgia-governor-to-help-subvert-election-11607207645 |url-status=live}} *{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/16/935465631/the-growing-backlash-against-trumps-efforts-to-subvert-the-election |date=November 20, 2020 |title=The Growing Backlash Against Trump's Efforts To Subvert The Election: Consider This from NPR |publisher=NPR |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202024601/https://www.npr.org/2020/11/16/935465631/the-growing-backlash-against-trumps-efforts-to-subvert-the-election |url-status=live}} *{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/07/politics/house-republicans-trump-biden/index.html |date=December 7, 2020 |title=House conservatives urge Trump not to concede and press for floor fight over election loss |first1=Manu |last1=Raju |first2=Jeremy |last2=Herb |work=CNN |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201025/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/07/politics/house-republicans-trump-biden/index.html |url-status=live}} *{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Timothy |date=January 9, 2021 |title=The American Abyss |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/magazine/trump-coup.html |access-date=February 9, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114035347/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/magazine/trump-coup.html |url-status=live }} *{{Cite web |last=Ben-Ghiat |first=Ruth |date=January 26, 2021 |title=Opinion: Trump's big lie wouldn't have worked without his thousands of little lies |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/opinions/big-lie-ben-ghiat/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022014334/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/opinions/big-lie-ben-ghiat/index.html |url-status=live }} *{{Cite web |first1=Jan |last1=Wolfe |first2=Susan |last2=Heavey |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Trump lawyer Giuliani faces $1.3 billion lawsuit over 'big lie' election fraud claims |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-election-dominion-idUKKBN29U206 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023173535/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-election-dominion-idUKKBN29U206 |url-status=live }} *{{Cite web |last=Block |first=Melissa |date=2021-01-16 |title=Can The Forces Unleashed By Trump's Big Election Lie Be Undone? |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/16/957291939/can-the-forces-unleashed-by-trumps-big-election-lie-be-undone |website=NPR |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128071931/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/16/957291939/can-the-forces-unleashed-by-trumps-big-election-lie-be-undone |url-status=live }} *{{Cite web |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |date=January 24, 2021 |title=Donald Trump is gone but his big lie is a rallying call for rightwing extremists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/24/donald-trump-big-lie-american-democracy |access-date=February 9, 2021 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118031438/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/24/donald-trump-big-lie-american-democracy |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump's fellow Republicans had [[Republican reactions to Donald Trump's claims of 2020 election fraud|varied reactions]] to Trump's false election-fraud claims.<ref>{{Cite web|title=As Trump's Election Pressure Campaign Hits Republican Officials, Some Hit Back|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/04/941284401/as-trumps-election-pressure-campaign-hits-republican-officials-some-hit-back|access-date=7 January 2021|website=NPR| date=4 December 2020 |language=en|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114214753/https://www.npr.org/2020/12/04/941284401/as-trumps-election-pressure-campaign-hits-republican-officials-some-hit-back|url-status=live| last1=Parks | first1=Miles }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The uncomfortable reality: Even many Republican officials believe false election claims |url-access=subscription |first1=Philip |last1=Bump |date=Feb 24, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/24/uncomfortable-reality-even-many-republican-officials-believe-false-election-claims/ |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417004934/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/24/uncomfortable-reality-even-many-republican-officials-believe-false-election-claims/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Just 27 congressional Republicans acknowledge Biden's win, Washington Post survey finds |date=Dec 5, 2020 |url-access=subscription |first1=Paul |last1=Kane |first2=Scott |last2=Clement |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/survey-who-won-election-republicans-congress/2020/12/04/1a1011f6-3650-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205191945/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/survey-who-won-election-republicans-congress/2020/12/04/1a1011f6-3650-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump's False Election Fraud Claims Split Republicans |date=November 6, 2020 |first1=Michael |last1=Crowley |url-access=subscription |website=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/us/politics/trump-election-republicans.html |access-date=2023-08-10 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035304/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/us/politics/trump-election-republicans.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump's strong grip on the Republican Party led to a majority of the party supporting or refusing to actively oppose him.<ref> {{Cite journal |last=Galvin |first=Daniel J. |date=2020-07-01 |title=Party Domination and Base Mobilization: Donald Trump and Republican Party Building in a Polarized Era |url=https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/for-2020-2003/html |journal=The Forum |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=135–168 |doi=10.1515/for-2020-2003 |issn=1540-8884|url-access=subscription }} </ref> Among those who stood firm against Trump's attempts to subvert the 2020 election results were Vice President [[Mike Pence]], Georgia Secretary of State [[Brad Raffensperger]], and the courts. On 6 January 2021, a pro-Trump mob, inflamed by Trump's false claims, [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|attacked the Capitol]] in Washington, D.C., in a failed attempt to keep Trump in power. The mob disrupted the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|counting of the electoral votes]] by a [[Joint session of the United States Congress|joint session of Congress]] for several hours.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Khavin |first1=Dmitriy |last2=Willis |first2=Haley |last3=Hill |first3=Evan |last4=Reneau |first4=Natalie |last5=Jordan |first5=Drew |last6=Engelbrecht |first6=Cora |last7=Triebert |first7=Christiaan |last8=Cooper |first8=Stella |last9=Browne |first9=Malachy |last10=Botti |first10=David |date=30 June 2021 |title=Day of Rage: An In-Depth Look at How a Mob Stormed the Capitol |url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007606996/capitol-riot-trump-supporters.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921172054/https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007606996/capitol-riot-trump-supporters.html |archive-date=21 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Long |first1=Colleen |last2=Balsamo |first2=Michael |date=26 August 2021 |title=Capitol Police officers sue Trump, allies over insurrection |url=https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-michael-pence-4cd64aab06e0f943ca8f83fd0b65037d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920142749/https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-michael-pence-4cd64aab06e0f943ca8f83fd0b65037d/ |archive-date=20 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2021 |work=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Mogelson |first=Luke |date=15 January 2021 |title=Capitol Police officers sue Trump, allies over insurrection |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/25/among-the-insurrectionists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118180312/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/25/among-the-insurrectionists |archive-date=18 January 2021 |access-date=11 September 2021 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |agency=The New Yorker}}</ref> Five people died either shortly before, during, or following the attack.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Eric |last2=Vera |first2=Amir |last3=Kallingal |first3=Mallika |title=What we know about the 5 deaths in the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/07/us/capitol-mob-deaths/index.html |access-date=7 January 2021 |work=CNN |date=7 January 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114214651/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/07/us/capitol-mob-deaths/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The following day, Trump condemned the attack and committed to the peaceful transition of power, but refused to mention Biden's name in his farewell address and did not attend Biden's inauguration.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Jeffery|title=Full Text of Speech in Which Donald Trump Finally Concedes Election to Biden Without Naming Him|url=https://www.newsweek.com/full-text-speech-which-donald-trump-finally-concedes-election-biden-1559880|website=Newsweek|date=7 January 2021|access-date=11 June 2021|archive-date=15 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215230507/https://www.newsweek.com/full-text-speech-which-donald-trump-finally-concedes-election-biden-1559880|url-status=live}}</ref> After the power transfer, he has routinely repeated election lies and defended the riots.<ref name="CNN_20210612">{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |title=Trump is doing more lying about the election than talking about any other subject |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/12/politics/analysis-trump-election-lies-blog-post-presidency |work=CNN |date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616191647/https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/12/politics/analysis-trump-election-lies-blog-post-presidency |archive-date=16 June 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Debate continues as to whether the events of the 2020 election represent a temporary aberration or a deeper, more sustained threat to the democratic fabric of the nation. Some argue that the rise of political polarization, the spread of disinformation, and the increasing willingness of political actors to reject established norms could point to a more profound crisis of legitimacy;<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027162241229309 |doi=10.1177/00027162241229309 |title=Political Parties and Loser's Consent in American Politics |date=2023 |last1=Layman |first1=Geoffrey |last2=Lee |first2=Frances |last3=Wolbrecht |first3=Christina |journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |volume=708 |pages=164–183 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> others believe that the resilience of U.S. institutions in the face of these challenges demonstrates that the foundations of democracy, while tested, remain robust.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/48647330 |jstor=48647330 |title=Front Matter |journal=The Independent Review |date=2021 |volume=26 |issue=1}}</ref> The aftermath of the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]] saw a peaceful transfer of power between Biden and a returning Trump, resuming the hallmark of peaceful transitions between presidencies.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hutzler |first1=Alexandra |last2=Nagle |first2=Molly |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Trump and Biden both call for smooth transition in historic Oval Office meeting |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-trump-meet-oval-office-post-election-tradition/story?id=115785681 |access-date=November 13, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
=== South America === In [[Venezuela]] in 1958, the [[Puntofijo Pact]] allowed a political agreement to respect the election results,<ref name="Corrales 81–113">{{Cite journal |last=Corrales |first=Javier |authorlink1=Javier Corrales|date=2001-01-01 |title=Strong Societies, Weak Parties: Regime Change in Cuba and Venezuela in the 1950s and Today |journal=Latin American Politics and Society |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=81–113 |doi=10.2307/3176972 |jstor=3176972}}</ref> allowing for a peaceful transition of power after the ouster of dictator [[Marcos Pérez Jiménez]] and during the country's democratic period.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Márquez |first1=Laureano |title=Historieta de Venezuela: De Macuro a Maduro |last2=Eduardo |first2=Sanabria |publisher=Gráficas Pedrazas |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-7328777-1-9 |edition=1st |page=95 |chapter=¡Por fin, democracia! |author-link=Laureano Márquez}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Power sharing]] * [[Nonviolent revolution]] * [[Peaceful Revolution]] * [[Puntofijo Pact]] * [[Succession crisis]]
== References == {{reflist}}
[[Category:Democracy]] [[Category:Elections]] [[Category:Articles containing video clips]]