In a striking historical reversal, the United States now finds itself looking to its former colonial ruler for lessons in political accountability. As the spectre of a second Trump administration looms, the challenge of holding elites to account has reached unprecedented levels, exposing a deep crisis in American democratic norms. Meanwhile, British institutions, despite their flaws, continue to demonstrate mechanisms that can constrain powerful figures and enforce consequences.
The Transatlantic Accountability Divide
While elite impunity runs rampant in American politics—from a former president who conspired to overturn an election to the privileged "Epstein class"—British figures like Prince Andrew and Lord Mandelson face both social shame and legal repercussions. This contrast reveals fundamental differences in how political systems manage misconduct among the powerful.
Shame as Democratic Currency
Successful shaming depends on accused individuals belonging to groups whose approval matters to them. When Larry Summers resigned from Harvard amid Epstein file revelations, he responded to potential disapproval from academic peers. In contrast, many American politicians display remarkable shamelessness, insulated by partisan media bubbles and carefully managed public interactions.
"Shamelessness has become contagious in American politics," observes political analyst Jan-Werner Müller. "The higher the frequency of shameless acts, the more difficult it becomes to make any single one stand out as scandalous."
Institutional Constraints: Britain vs America
British political institutions, while imperfect, maintain mechanisms that can check executive power. The press—including tabloids with their problematic aspects—remains capable of ending political careers through sustained scrutiny. Political parties, too, retain disciplinary functions, as demonstrated when Conservative MPs forced Boris Johnson's resignation despite his Teflon reputation.
The Media's Diminished Role
In the United States, the media's accountability function has weakened significantly. Politicians discovered through social media that they could bypass traditional gatekeepers and survive scandals that would have previously ended careers. Approximately one-third of Americans now inhabit right-wing media ecosystems where factual reporting rarely penetrates, creating parallel realities where shamelessness faces no social penalty.
Parties: Functioning Institutions vs Personality Cults
The contrast between British and American political parties proves particularly revealing. While the Conservative Party demonstrated institutional capacity by removing Johnson, the Republican Party has transformed into what observers describe as a "personality cult" centered on Donald Trump.
"What we witnessed at Trump's State of the Union address resembled North Korean levels of adulation," notes Müller. "Republicans excitedly jumping up after nearly every sentence confirmed this was a fan club, not Jefferson's vision of a 'natural aristocracy' putting country above individual."
Shamelessness as Political Strategy
Right-wing populists have weaponized shamelessness as a political resource. Legitimate criticism becomes evidence of liberal disrespect, while any shame experienced can be relieved through increasingly outrageous conduct designed to enrage opponents. This creates a feedback loop where shameless acts generate political capital.
More insidiously, this strategy yields material benefits through mafia-like loyalty structures. Those demonstrating absolute fealty gain access to corrupt opportunities while enjoying impunity—a dynamic exemplified by Trump's pardon of January 6 insurrectionists in exchange for personal benefit.
Judicial Systems: Contrasting Outcomes
While courts in democracies like Brazil and South Korea have imprisoned former leaders Jair Bolsonaro and Yoon Suk Yeol, America's judiciary has moved in the opposite direction. The Supreme Court's expansion of presidential immunity, combined with Trump's uninhibited use of pardons for political advantage, creates what Müller calls "an unprecedented challenge for accountability post-Trump 2.0."
The Contagion Effect
Biographers note that those close to Trump frequently begin imitating his conduct, creating a contagion of shamelessness throughout political circles. This "flooding the zone with improper behavior" prevents public focus on any single transgression, normalizing conduct that would previously have been considered beyond democratic pale.
As the United States confronts the possibility of another Trump administration, the accountability mechanisms that once constrained American leaders appear dangerously weakened. Meanwhile, British institutions—despite their own challenges—continue to demonstrate that political systems can maintain checks on elite power, offering sobering lessons for a nation struggling with democratic backsliding.
