The Big Flip Racial Demographic Change and the Future of American Democracy

As the United States approaches a transformative demographic milestone--when Americans of color will become the majority and white Americans a minority--US democracy faces a test of unprecedented magnitude. This moment, the "big flip", is far more than a matter of numbers; it is a catalyst for deep political and psychological upheaval. Once merely a projection, this demographic shift now shapes national debates, fuels fears, and incites division across party lines. This book uncovers how anticipation and misconceptions surrounding the big flip have stirred powerful anxieties, particularly among white Americans, and how these fears have been weaponized in ways that threaten the very foundations of American democracy. Andrew Ifedapo Thompson traces the history of racial politics in the US through to the contemporary politicization of the big flip. Drawing on work in political psychology and political communication, he identifies how anxieties provoked by shifting demographics can erode trust in democratic norms and increase tolerance for political violence and authoritarian leaders. Thought-provoking and urgent, this book suggests vital steps for individuals and institutions to preserve democracy amid rapid change and offers a crucial lens on the forces reshaping America's political future.

Andrew Ifedapo Thompson is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He specializes in the study of political behavior and psychology, with a focus on the role of racial threat in democratic erosion in the United States, extending into radicalization, partisanship, and the shifting nature of racial identity in contributing to erosion. His work has been published in a variety of top academic journals, such as Political Behavior and Perspectives on Politics.