Last week, Donald Trump secured a second term in the White House by winning the 2024 presidential election. At a time when many in America are feeling concern, while others feel a sense of expectation, about what the next four years may bring, Keith Magee writes on the need to recommit to civic engagement and civil dialogue and to speak truth to power. Through these ways forward, together with what he terms an ‘empathy revolution’, the US can pursue a more perfect union. 

• Professor Keith Magee discussed the 2024 US election and its domestic and international implications as part of a panel of experts in the LSE Phelan US Centre event, “The 2024 US election: turning point for America?” on Wednesday 6 November 2024. Watch the event recording and listen to the podcast.

I am a public theologian, a professor and a commentator on affairs of religion, politics and social justice. I also share another role with countless others who feel compelled to set out their vision of a path to a more equal future – that of prophet. As such, I am reminded of the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel from his book The Prophets: “… the prophet’s role is to be God’s voice and humanity’s conscience, constantly calling us to bridge the gap between the world as it is and as it should be.” And today, that gap feels wider than ever.

It appears Donald Trump will once again assume the highest office in America, and arguably the free world. A man whose rhetoric promises a presidency marked by unchecked power and retribution against perceived enemies.

The arc of the moral universe, as we know, is long. Yet, as Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. assured us, it bends toward justice. The question before us is: what does justice look like in a world where the tools of leadership might be wielded to exacerbate division rather than promote unity?

I agree with the New York Times Editorial Board, which, on the day after the election, wrote: “Regardless of party or politics, all Americans must insist on preserving the fundamental pillars of democracy — constitutional checks and balances, impartial courts, a fair and free electoral system, and the safeguarding of civil rights.” Without these pillars, the very foundation of our union could be at risk. It is our collective responsibility to conserve them – each of us must now embody the guardrails that will protect our flawed but precious Constitution.

“A voter at a voting booth inside Keewati” (CC BY 2.0) by Lorie Shaull

Three ways forward

In this moment of both despair and determination, I see three ways forward.

First, we must recommit to civic engagement, particularly at the local level. Democracy is not just about casting a ballot every four years. It is about showing up in our communities, our school boards and our city councils. By empowering local voices and staying actively engaged, we can prevent and resist abuses of power. Change can happen from the ground up, when citizens of all political stripes and none respect each other and work together for the common good.

Second, we must have the courage to speak truth to power. A prophet’s voice is never convenient or comfortable, but it is always necessary. We must be vigilant, for we are all called upon now to challenge policies and actions that undermine democracy, to speak out against injustices wherever they appear and to demand accountability. We must honour the integrity and courage of all those who stand up for communities that are being marginalised, dehumanised and stripped of their dignity, and do everything we can to amplify their voices. This is how we keep alive the possibility of a more just society.

Finally – and most importantly – we must commit ourselves to civil dialogue. We live in an age of extreme polarisation, where conversations often collapse into bitter arguments, or simply never happen at all. Outright hostility toward people with whom we disagree has become normalized; hatred of members of other groups has been exploited and even manufactured for political gain. It is essential to create brave spaces where we can listen to one another. Justice does not flourish in a vacuum – it requires hard-earned understanding.

The need for an empathy revolution

The critical ingredient here is empathy. It alone allows us to see beyond our own perspective and recognise the humanity of others, especially those who feel left behind or misunderstood. When we approach others with empathy, we open the door to reconciliation and healing. I believe what we urgently need to help Americans find common ground is nothing less than an empathy revolution.

Empathy is a skill we can learn – we can teach it in our schools, universities, youth clubs, and faith groups. We can decide to consciously practice it, at the holiday dinner table, in community organizations, and in our workplaces. We can stop avoiding difficult conversations about contentious issues and instead commit to sometimes listening more than we speak. Empathy is like a muscle – the more you regularly you use it, the stronger it becomes.

We don’t have to condone or agree with opinions we find offensive, but we do have to ask, “Why does that person think that way and what are they afraid of?” Perhaps then, as a nation, we will be equipped to overcome the many serious problems we face in ways that lift us all up and don’t leave anyone feeling abandoned and resentful.

So, for those who see the outcome of this election as a bright moment, and to those who see it as a cause for concern, the work is the same: to pursue a more perfect union. It is time for a vision of America that is not merely “Great Again” for some, but “Truly Safe and Just” for all. In doing so, we answer a higher calling and fulfil our duty as guardians of democracy and justice.

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• Note: This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of USAPP – American Politics and Policy, nor the London School of Economics. 
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