US Democracy
In How Democracies Die (2018), Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt discuss several tactics used by would-be autocrats to undermine democratic institutions and consolidate power. Here are the key tactics they identify. (Those with ✅ have a forecasting question)
Capture the Referees:
Control of Judiciary: Autocrats attempt to control the judicial system to protect themselves and their allies while prosecuting opponents.✅✅✅
Manipulation of Electoral Commissions: Ensuring that election oversight bodies are filled with loyalists to manipulate electoral outcomes.
Sideline Opponents:
Legal and Extra-Legal Measures: Using the legal system to harass, imprison, or disqualify political opponents.
Economic Pressure: Applying economic pressure on adversaries, such as through tax investigations or denying business licenses.
Media Suppression: Curtailing free press by intimidating, censoring, or taking over media outlets.✅✅✅
Undermine the Integrity of Elections:
Election Fraud: Engaging in electoral fraud through ballot stuffing, voter suppression, or tampering with vote counts. ✅
Gerrymandering: Redrawing electoral districts to favor the ruling party. ✅
Changing Electoral Rules: Altering laws and regulations to disadvantage opponents, such as imposing restrictive voter ID laws or changing campaign finance rules.
Use of Violence and Intimidation:
Encouraging Political Violence: Encouraging or turning a blind eye to violence by loyalists or paramilitary groups.✅✅✅
Intimidation: Using threats and physical intimidation to silence critics and discourage opposition.✅
Erode Democratic Norms:
Undermining Mutual Toleration: Treating political opponents as enemies and questioning their legitimacy.
Breaking Unwritten Rules: Exploiting legal loopholes and ignoring longstanding norms that ensure checks and balances.
Consolidate Power Through Legal Means:
Legislative Changes: Passing laws that increase executive power and reduce checks and balances. ✅
Constitutional Amendments: Amending the constitution to extend terms in office or reduce democratic oversight. ✅✅
State of Emergency: Declaring states of emergency to bypass normal democratic procedures and consolidate power. ✅✅
These tactics, when used in combination, can lead to the gradual erosion of democratic institutions and norms, paving the way for autocratic rule. The authors emphasize that while these tactics may be legally permissible, they undermine the spirit of democracy and the principles of fair governance.
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Text largely written by GPT-4o. I did read the book though.
