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By Yonel Pierre

Years ago, while a political science doctoral student at the City University of New York, I nearly made myself a laughingstock during a dialogue with a professor.

The discussion centered around the issue of whether the U.S. could ever become a multi-party system in the same sense as counterpart Western democratic nations. I suggested the possibility of a breakdown within the two-party system resulting in space for a strong third party to quickly emerge. By then, the U.S. had already experienced the presence of a handful of weak and failed third parties. Therefore, it was easy to laugh at my suggestion. In short, the professor flatly refuted my assertion.

In her disdain, she mockingly inquired if I was insinuating a return to the colonial revolutionary time and the Boston Tea-party movement of the 1770s. Challenged by such a world-renowned expert, I simply backed down; I had no theory to support my thought at the time.

We are arguably a strong democracy -- but not the only one. What makes us exceptional? As others, we have flaws, our own moments of national vulnerability, such as the Civil War. The recent mob-like invasion of the U.S. Capitol building was another.

Admittedly, the past four years of the Trump administration taught us a good lesson. It showed that we are not immune to the infiltration of political elements normally foreign to our electoral practices. Otherwise, conventionally, a Donald J. Trump could not have become president here. He became the 45th president on our watch. And his four-year term saw unwavering support from the political base that propelled his ascension to power, regardless of his obvious commitment to create a divisive American society.

Most followers of Donald Trump today hold the same beliefs as the Tea party members. They believe they have been wronged by the Washington political establishment; more recently, that the presidential election was stolen from them; that their very liberty is in danger, unless they do something about it -- by any means possible.

If at the time of our dialogue my distinguished professor was right in refuting my thought of a possible challenging third party, today, we may infer that the U.S. two-party political system is at crossroads and no longer immune to radical transformation.

Trump, regardless of his lack of preparedness when he took office and his unorthodox and haphazard governing style, managed to command a large following in the American electorate. It is worth noting that, in the U.S. electoral history, he has been the only losing presidential candidate to amass 74 million votes.

To some, that may be impressive, to others scary. But the fact remains that a strong socio-political movement was born. He has given a voice to an angry and disgruntled political force that waited in silence. The terroristic invasion of the Capitol serves as a reminder. And on multiple occasions, Trump also reminds us that he will be back. With that statement, one may infer with a high degree of certainty that the U.S. is experiencing the resurgence of a third political party unlike any other. Lets call it Trumpism, until a better term is made available.

No matter the outcome of the impeachment trial in the Senate, Trumpism as a new political party and interest movement will still take its place in our electoral system with members running for various public offices. That puts Donald Trump right back at the center of U.S. politics.

Trumpism was in part given birth by the Republican political party and its characteristics reflect key republican ideologies and values. That creates an electoral threat for a strong and competitive Republican political party base. It will weaken the GOP and make it less competitive in the long run. The Republican Party will be less likely to win national elections in a three-way electoral contest. As a result, the Republican political party, as we knew it, will be the hostage of the political child-party that sprang from it.

Perhaps, in a sense, we are reliving the Tea party era. Time will tell. However, in our country and elsewhere, all indications point to the fact that populism has been on the rise. People all over the world have grown in distaste for career politicians. Trumpism benefits from this worldwide political phenomenon. And, because of its anticipated methods of operation, it must be viewed as a Tea-party type of a modern political challenge of our time.

Yonel Pierre of Jersey City holds a Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Administration.

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Trumpism: End of the GOP as we know it and dawn of a multi-party system? | Opinion - NJ.com