It's a common occurrence: candidates for high office, including the presidency, promise sweeping solutions to all of our problems. This creates a double-edged problem. Politicians, eager for election, often overpromise, vowing to achieve the impossible. And citizens, in turn, often succumb to the illusion that democracy is simply about casting a vote every four years, only to experience disappointment when the elected leader fails to deliver on every promise.
The reality is that, while the nation's leader holds significant power and influence, democracy is ultimately a collective endeavour. Effective governance requires not only the actions of elected officials but also the active engagement of citizens at all levels. We must recognize that progress requires both leadership and the ongoing commitment of the citizenry.
A mature democracy requires a healthy interplay between leadership and citizen engagement. In essence, democracy is not a one-time event or the sole responsibility of elected officials. It is a continuous process that requires the active involvement of all citizens working together to build a better society.
The "President as Savior Syndrome" is a dangerous and pervasive mindset that undermines the very foundations of democracy. It manifests in two primary ways: Candidate Saviorism and Citizen Saviorism.
Candidates exploit the public's desire for simple solutions and quick fixes by presenting themselves as saviours who possess all the answers and can single-handedly solve complex problems. They engage in excessive promises, fostering unrealistic expectations among the electorate.
Citizens abdicate their own responsibilities as active participants in democracy by placing excessive faith in a single leader. They believe that the president alone can solve all their problems and absolve them of the need for personal engagement in public affairs. This mindset fosters a dangerous dependency and undermines the collective power of the citizenry.
The belief that the president is a superhero: Candidates and citizens alike often attribute superhuman qualities to the president, expecting them to possess all the knowledge, wisdom, and charisma necessary to solve every problem.
The myth of the "magic bullet": The idea that there is a single, simple solution to complex societal issues, and that the president can implement it with a wave of a wand.
The fallacy of the "great man of history": The belief that history is shaped solely by the actions of great leaders, ignoring the role of collective action and social movements.
Erosion of democratic values: It undermines the principle of shared responsibility and citizen engagement, which are essential for a healthy democracy.
Unrealistic expectations: It sets up unrealistic expectations that can lead to widespread disappointment and cynicism when the president inevitably fails to deliver on all promises.
Authoritarian tendencies: It can create a fertile ground for authoritarian leaders who exploit public disillusionment to consolidate power and silence dissent.
Breaking the cycle of the President as Saviour Syndrome requires a fundamental shift in mindset, both among candidates and citizens. Candidates must resist the temptation to overpromise and present themselves as infallible. Citizens must recognize their own power and responsibility to actively participate in shaping their society. Only through this collective effort can we build a truly democratic and resilient nation.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires active participation from all citizens, not just during elections but on an ongoing basis. Citizens have a responsibility to stay informed about important issues, engage in public discourse, and hold their elected officials accountable.
Significant social and political change often originates from grassroots movements driven by ordinary citizens. History is replete with examples of how collective action by citizens can influence policy decisions, shape public opinion, and bring about meaningful reforms.
A well-informed citizenry is essential for a healthy democracy. Civic education should be prioritized at all levels, from schools to community organizations. It empowers citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in the democratic process.
Local communities are the bedrock of democracy. By fostering strong local ties, supporting community organizations, and encouraging civic engagement at the grassroots level, we can build a more vibrant and participatory democracy.
Effective leadership is crucial, but it is equally important to have an engaged and informed citizenry that can hold leaders accountable and provide constructive feedback. True democracy requires a dynamic relationship between leaders and followers, where both parties play vital roles.
Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign was a watershed moment in American politics, not only for its outcome, but also for its innovative use of technology and its ability to mobilize an unprecedented level of public engagement. The campaign harnessed the power of the internet, creating a vibrant online community that fueled a groundswell of support for Obama's message of hope and change. His website, My.BarackObama.com [1], served as a central hub for volunteers, donors, and supporters, providing them with tools for organizing events, spreading the message, and donating to the campaign. This online platform, coupled with the campaign's use of social media, helped create a sense of collective purpose and energized a generation of voters who had previously felt disillusioned with politics.
Tragically, however, this powerful network of public engagement was largely left dormant after Obama's election. While he dedicated his energy to governing, he failed to sustain the link with the wider community that had so vigorously supported his campaign. The organizational tools and platforms that had fueled such widespread mobilization were not maintained or adapted for post-election engagement. This disconnect left the Obama administration without a readily available network of committed citizens to assist in pushing his policies and promoting his agenda. While focusing on governing is essential, the failure to maintain a connection with the energized public that propelled Obama to victory ultimately limited the potential for broader, sustained public support for his initiatives.
“True democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us. It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, and any one government. It’s a job for all of us.”
— Barack Obama [2]
“I'm asking you to believe not in my ability to bring about change but in yours."
— Barack Obama, from his last speech as President of the United States [3]
Donald Trump's presidential campaigns, from 2016 to 2020 and now his 2024 bid, exemplify the worst excesses of the President as Saviour Syndrome. He consistently utilizes a simplistic, populist approach, making sweeping promises without providing concrete plans or details. This approach thrives on a narrative of grievance and the yearning for a strong leader who will "fix everything."
Take, for instance, his signature campaign pledge of building a wall at the southern border and making Mexico pay for it. This simplistic solution ignores the complex challenges of immigration, including economic factors, humanitarian concerns, and the reality of international relations. It plays on a fear of "outsiders" while neglecting nuanced solutions.
Similarly, Trump's repeated promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) consistently lacked any tangible plan. He promised a "better" healthcare system without outlining specific details on how it would operate, its costs, or its potential benefits. This empty promise exploited anxieties around healthcare access while offering no concrete solutions.
His recent pronouncements about Russia's war in Ukraine further underscore this pattern. He repeatedly boasts about his ability to end the war with a single phone call, ignoring the complexities of international diplomacy and the realities of conflict resolution. This grandiose, simplistic approach fuels a dangerous perception of leadership as a one-man show, dismissing the intricate work of diplomacy and negotiation.
Perhaps most strikingly, Trump's attempt in September 2024 to win over women voters by promising to "solve all their problems" highlights the shallowness of his approach. This sweeping and vague promise, devoid of any specifics, is a textbook example of populist saviorism, attempting to appeal to a broad audience with grand, empty promises.
Trump's campaigns embody the pitfalls of the President as Savior Syndrome. He thrives on the illusion of a single, powerful individual wielding ultimate power, promising to solve all problems with a wave of a hand. This dangerous ideology undermines the principles of democracy by emphasizing individual leadership over collective action and nuanced solutions over thoughtful engagement with complex challenges.
I always thought women liked me. I never thought I had a problem but the fake news keeps saying women don't like me. (...) Sadly women are poorer than they were four years ago, much poorer; are less healthy than they were four years ago; are less safe on the streets than they were four years ago; are paying much higher prices for groceries and everything else than they were four years ago; are more stressed and depressed and unhappy than they were four years ago; and are less optimistic and confident in the future than they were four years ago. I believe that. I will fix all of that and fast and at long last this nation and National nightmare will end. It will end. We've got to end this National nightmare, because I am your protector. I want to be your protector. As president, I have to be your protector. I hope, you don't make too much of it. I hope the fake news does: "Oh, he wants to be their protector!" Well I am, as president. I have to be your protector. I will make you safe at the border, on the sidewalks of your now violent cities, in the suburbs where you are under migrant criminal Siege, and with our military protecting you from foreign enemies of which we have many today because of the incompetent leadership that we have. You will no longer be abandoned lonely or scared. You will no longer be in danger. You're not going to be in danger any longer. You will no longer have anxiety from all of the problems our country has today. You will be protected and I will be your protector. Women will be happy, healthy, confident, and free. You will no longer be thinking about abortion. It's all they talk about: abortion, because we've done something that nobody else could have done. It is now where it always had to be with the states and a vote of the people.
— Donald Trump, September 2024 campaign rally, as polls give 58% Harris vs. 32% Trump favorability ratings from women.[4]