The U.S. midterm elections have provided many reasons to feel concerned about the future of the nation’s democracy.

While voters appear to have applied the brakes on the political trend toward extremism, the polls also indicate an increasingly sharper division in society.

The midterms, which came nearly two years into President Joe Biden’s four-year term, have offered a major surprise.

Despite predictions of a Republican surge, or a “red wave,” the opposition party has failed to score a resounding victory. The vote count is continuing, with neither party claiming clear control of Congress.

The worst inflation in about four decades in the United States generated strong headwinds for the Democrats.

But Biden’s campaign, which focused on the value of democracy and the rights of women, proved effective to some extent.

In particular, the Supreme Court’s decision in June to reverse Roe v. Wade, which deprived women of their nearly half-century constitutional right to abortion, had huge repercussions on the elections.

A sense of crisis about the far-right movement seems to have lifted support for the Democrats.

But Biden got carried away by excessive optimism on Nov. 9 when he said, “It was a good day for democracy.”

He has to deal with a bitterly divided Congress, which will show little enthusiasm about working with the administration.

The nonpartisan basis of the democratic governance of the United States will face a harsh test.

Many Republican candidates have publicly denied the results of the 2020 presidential election that brought Biden to the White House.

The storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by a mob of supporters of then President Donald Trump already provided a red-light alert to the world.

Many politicians who deny the election result for their own interests will hold important public offices. This bodes ill for the future of American democracy.

Trump attracted much attention with high-profile actions and speeches that signaled his confidence for a Republican landslide in the election.

He exerted his strong influence over the party by maneuvering many candidates to support his denial of the 2020 election result.

With Trump expected to announce his run for the 2024 presidential election within days, the Republican Party is at a major crossroads. Will it become entrenched as a Trump party or can it re-emerge as a healthy conservative political force?

The political division is creating serious social ills within the United States. Violence and threats against politicians are surging, as indicated by the assault against Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, at their home.

Signs are also rife about political extremism at local levels, including stories about governors of southern states transporting migrants by bus or plane to northern states.

Criticism against the Supreme Court is reaching a fever pitch, suggesting that the credibility of the entire U.S. governing system is being shaken to its core.

The new National Security Strategy published by the Biden administration in October cited threats posed by China and Russia as key security challenges. Another challenge listed was maintaining the strength of U.S. democracy.

This represents a cool-headed and accurate perception about the challenges confronting the country, and it should be shared by both sides for effective efforts to correct political ills.

Domestic partisan warfare inevitably affects Washington’s foreign policy.

The United States will continue to lose its prestige in the international community if its policy stances toward such key issues as the war in Ukraine, the Middle East peace process and North Korea’s arms programs fluctuate wildly.

The focus of attention in the U.S. political community will shift toward the presidential election two years down the road.

American politicians need to understand that no matter who runs in that race, a country cannot have a bright future unless it remains solidly committed to democratic principles.

We hope they understand that the world has become disillusioned with U.S. democracy by the constant political infighting plaguing the nation.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 11