The 2024 U.S. election revealed a transformative shift in the collective psyche of many Americans. Traditionally, campaign rallies are characterized by crowds chanting a candidate’s name. However, when Donald Trump appeared on stage, the chant was “USA! USA! USA!”
What does this chant signify? It is born out of the emotional tension between profound despair and passionate hope. “Make America Great Again” (MAGA)—an anathema to some—became, for patriotic Americans, a symbol of their yearning for a nation-centered government. It was like the cry of a family longing for a caring patriarch—someone who ensures the safety, well-being, and future of the household. In stark contrast to a father or mother who would rather show kindness and protection to dangerous strangers occupying their family’s home than to their own family, who hungers for their genuine love and care.
The first democracy, established by Cleisthenes in ancient Athens, was rooted in the voice and will of the people—not in that of elite representatives. It was a state-centered form of governance where the collective voice held true power and legitimacy.
Trump and his movement, in this context, signal the end of what American democratic governance has become—and the beginning of a new form of government. This could be aptly described as patriotic eucracy: a modern translation of ancient democratic intent into contemporary American governance.
It is patriotic because it arises from a deep love for the country, forged through shared hardship and hope. It is eucratic (from the Greek eu, meaning “good”) because it advocates governance centered on the common good—an effort to truly “Make America Great Again.” This nation-centered eucracy also lays the foundation for a new form of diplomacy—eucratic diplomacy—which balances national interest with mutually beneficial relationships among allies.
At the outset, this requires a rebalancing of international political and economic policies. These adjustments aim to create a level playing field, securing national prosperity and a brighter future. Only then can there be a sincere, multilaterally beneficial reestablishment of global partnerships with like-minded, eucratic governments—those equally committed to peaceful progress and national development. Each of these nations would contribute to global peace by advancing their respective technological and socio-economic strengths while jointly rejecting war and fostering regional security.
This eucratic spirit is precisely what made countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar so welcoming of Trump and his team. His visits were met with genuine respect, enthusiasm, and a sense of instant collegiality. These moments signal the arrival of a new world—one where ideological conflict gives way to shared values of peace, progress, and prosperity. In such a world, citizens of both the U.S. and the Middle East can focus on improving their quality of life and securing a hopeful future.
Is this not a more divine vision for our civilization? A model global society—born from America’s transformation and strengthened by the three Middle Eastern eucratic autocracies of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. These nations serve as paradigms of security, sovereignty, and rapid infrastructural development. Their Asian counterpart? Singapore.
But what is eucracy?
It is a form of government genuinely focused on the well-being, safety, and long-term prosperity of its people. Its foundations rest on three pillars:
1. Patriotism—Nation-Centered Governance
A truly democratic government prioritizes national security, territorial integrity, and the well-being of its citizens. This government is loyal to its people—and in turn, the people are loyal to their government. It exists for the common good.
2. Strong, Good Governance—Competent and Ethical Leadership
This is the objective Trump and his allies aspire to. It is also the defining trait of the Middle Eastern eucratic autocracies—alongside nations such as Singapore and Brunei. Though often labeled as authoritarian, these governments should not be equated with oppressive regimes like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq or present-day Myanmar. The distinction lies in intent: one wields power to ensure public good; the other, to control and exploit. Strong and competent governance has been the engine behind the remarkable progress of democratic states—while others, lacking this principle, fall into decline.
3. Visionary Leadership—Forward-Thinking Governance
A stagnant government inevitably decays. A visionary one, by contrast, revitalizes and evolves. A democratic state embraces innovation, advances in technology, and practices forward-thinking diplomacy to secure economic growth and political stability.
So, is Trump bringing an end to democracy?
Yes—if the question refers to the demise of a flawed version of American democratic governance: one plagued by apathy, partisanship, and ideological extremism disguised as progressivism, which often exploits society’s most vulnerable.
No—if it suggests the erosion of the people’s will and vision to make America great again. Through the MAGA and MAHA (Make America Honest Again) initiatives, Trump and his allies are not dismantling democracy but transforming it. They are ushering in a new form of governance: eucracy, a government for the good of the people, by good people. And this model, perhaps, is exactly what the other so-called Western democracies need—if they are to survive and thrive in the decades ahead.
