Fergus Finlay: USA's demise as a functioning democracy is a terrible warning to the world

Joe Biden must stand up to Donald Trump's attempt to wrest power back or else the unthinkable will happen

An artist sketch of former US President Donald Trump, right, conferring with his defense lawyer Todd Blanche, centre, during his appearance at the Federal Courthouse in Washington last week on charges that he conspired to overturn the 2020 election. Picture: Dana Verkouteren/AP

America has stopped being a functioning democracy. And there is a terrible warning in that for the entire world. If America goes, the very concept of democracy around the world is under threat. 

Already the future of democracy has been gravely undermined in a number of European countries and is under threat in many more, including France, Germany and Italy. In a generation, it may cease to exist and be replaced by entirely populist politics run by “strong men”.