The United States is not at risk of such worst-case scenarios. But Mr. Trump’s language, the scholars say, follows a similar playbook and could pose real, if less extreme, risks. Mr. Trump might be less Hugo Chávez than Julius Malema, he said, referring to a South African populist who challenged the legitimacy of elections this spring to save face after his party lost. Disturbing political violence followed in the weeks after, with riots in Pretoria and two members of Mr. Malema’s party killed in Johannesburg. If those conditions are taken together, Mr. Cheeseman said, the outlook is not one of doom, but it is worrisome.

Source: New York Times October 23, 2016 04:41 UTC