Greatest risks to UK + US democracy

I put up a thread asking about how our different systems would cope with electoral triumphs for dictatorial movements.

I thought the Klan leader Stephension in the US and Mosely, as leader of the New Party in a context of more politcal and economic chaos in the UK/

I think both were unlikely but neither quite ASB.

Any other risks (other than actual invasion by a foriegn dictatorship)

In the US I could see J E Hoover being a threat to democracy

Any suggestions as to how bad things could have happened here in the UK
 
First of all, these individuals have to get into a position where they can effectively be the leader of a major party. It's hard in both instances without changing the ideology of these men.
 
In the US, there's not too much of a way to create a long term dictatorship in post-1900. That's what separation of powers are for. Obviously the president is the single man with the most power, but the legislature covets its independence and will refuse to go along with a president that tries to control too much (see the legislative branch refusing FDR's attempt at court packing, even though it was controlled by Democrats). So even if you see someone like Stephenson become president, he still won't have really dictatorial style control. And if he does get control, he better be a damned effective leader, or he'll be voted out after a few terms regardless. I don't think it's possible to get too much more power than FDR had.

I suppose some kind of military coup is possible and would circumvent the Constitution, but kind of ASB in the US.

Best shot you have is an 18th century POD, I'd think, before the idea of separation of powers gets ingrained and you have men like Washington who can build a cult of personality. But there were a lot of pressures against it even then. Maybe ACW? Let's say someone more radical than Lincoln gets elected (on the same basis as OTL... the less radical folks split the vote, and he wins on a plurality). This leads to bigger revolts in northern states, perhaps the secession of NYC, and the president will be forced to take bigger and bigger measures for victory. When he wins, he'll have a LOT of power and you might see him treating the rebellious territories as a conquered foreign country (the way a lot of radicals wanted).
 
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