New Dictators Dismantling Democracy from Within

New Dictators Dismantling Democracy from Within

Cecilia Mengivar & Daisy Del Real

The past decade has seen a wave of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world. Democracy and authoritarianism were once thought to be two separate, distant worlds with little in common, and the triumph of one weakened the other. But now Dictator All over the world, in poor countries and rich countries, established democracies and emerging democracies, on the right and the left, the same tactics are being used to try to dismantle democracy from within.

As of 2021, of the 104 countries in the world classified as democracies, 37 people experienced Moderate to severe Deterioration of key elements In the open Free ElectionsBasic Rights and freedoms, Citizen Participation, Rule of lawand Intergovernmental checks and balances This wave of democratic backsliding has accelerated since 2016 and is reaching every corner of the world.

As the US presidential election looms in November, questions are emerging about the future of American democracy. UrgencyAmericans are increasingly Tolerant of authoritarianism A change in tactics makes these questions even more pressing: With a presidential candidate in Donald Trump promising to be a dictator, will the United States slip into dictatorship? His first day Who is in power? Can lessons learned from other authoritarian regimes help us discern the backsliding of democracy in the United States?

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To answer these questions, we first need to identify how the new breed of dictators gain and maintain power. Their signature strategy is deception. How do modern dictators, and would-be dictators, gain and maintain power? Hungary’s Viktor OrbanAre Vladimir Putin of Russia, Najib Bukele of El Salvador, Narendra Modi of India, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela practicing this technique as the latest model of autocracy? As they seize power, they distort information and create chaos within the guise of democracy. They do not overthrow democracies with military coups, but by subverting core democratic principles, weakening the rule of law, and eliminating checks and balances between branches of government.

Instead of leaders like Augusto of Chile eradicating democratic institutions, Pinochet or Zaire Mobutu Just as Sese Seko did in the past, current existing and emerging autocrats (for example, in the case of Maduro and Orbán) corrupt courts, disrupt elections, and distort information to gain and stay in power. They connect with a public that is ostensibly elected in free elections and already primed to fear a fabricated enemy. The point is that they use these democratic tools to gain power. Once in power, they dismantle those processes. Autocratic tactics slowly creep into the political life of a country and take deep root in the democratic institutions that they have corrupted. One might say that modern autocracies are tyrannies of gaslighting.

We brought together a group of scholars who have studied successful and failed dictatorships around the world. Special Issue of American behavioral scientist, To identify commonalities among authoritarian regimes around the world, the study shows that modern authoritarian regimes uniformly apply key components to solidify illiberal policies and undermine democracy before taking control. Legal systemRewrite the election laws, Constitutionand divide the population into “us” versus “them” groups. Dictators routinely Considered the only savior Silencing and criminalizing the country, Disparaging critics or OppositionThey distort information, Fabricating “facts” Through media, Billing fraud Even if you lose the election, you can convince the people. “Cleanse” the country Eliminate crime and ultimately Oppressive nationalistic diaspora and funding Satellite Politics Movement and Hate groups Amplify the illiberal policies of dictators Distorting democracy.

In February, El Salvador’s popular dictator, who describes himself asThe coolest dictators in the world” he said at the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual gathering for right-wing US elected officials and activists, where he received a standing ovation after boasting about his country’s crackdown on crime and suggesting the US should follow his tactics. speech Today’s dictators, regardless of their political history, ideology, or the wealth and status of their nations on the world stage, have a similar toolbox of tricks at their disposal. legitimize their ruleThat’s because they imitate and learn from each other. Successes and failuresA vast interconnected network allows autocrats to cooperate, share strategies and know-how, Visit each other In public A sign of friendship In solidarity International United FrontJust ask Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister and dictator, who received a warm welcome when he spoke at CPAC in 2022 and reminded the audience of the reason for his visit: “I’m here to tell you all. Let’s join forces.”

A global network of autocracies provides economic resources to other autocracies and invests in their economies. Share security services to suppress public dissent, and Sometimes it gets in the way In each other’s elections.

Modern dictators do not act alone. Their relationships with each other are Diverse Executives Legal experts, political strategists, and academics are financially secure and well-educated. cosmopolitanMichael Anton, associates of the pro-Trump Claremont Institute, and more than 400 academics and policy experts who collaborated with him. Project 2025— The far-right’s strategy against President Trump — and Stephen K. Bannonteeth,”Dismantling By filling government positions with partisans and loyalists, they create an “administrative state” that moves in and out of government positions and public life. They are maneuverable and form the backbone of a dictator’s strategy. Videos and Podcasts and Write a book To fabricate a positive image of the dictator, Detailed blueprints They seek an authoritarian form of government. Consult with aspiring dictators Regarding best practices.

The evidence shows that American democracy is in danger. The United States is inevitably fall into dictatorshipNo, not for attentive and informed voters. Recognizing the tactics that autocrats use and share, hiding behind the guise of democratic elections and masking fear-mongering tactics, can help us understand the harmful consequences these tactics have on democracy and perhaps stop the tide in time.

Nicaraguan opposition politician and presidential candidate Juan Sebastian Chamorro has been charged with treason. Arrested and deported Chamorro is living in exile under the administration of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo (who is also the first lady) simply for running as an opposition candidate. Dangers facing countriesDictators who come to power through democratic institutions are “like a silent disease, whose early symptoms are usually ignored, but once it starts to eat away at the body, it is usually too late to stop it.”

This is an opinion and analysis article and the views of the author are not necessarily those of Scientific American.