The novel authoritarian pandemic, and how to stop it
buildingthedream.substack.com
In democracies, crackpot, lying "strongmen" like Trump almost never come to power by winning a majority of votes. Once in power, they use their position to win over a majority of support by manipulating crises, real or manufactured. In normal times, figures like Trump can barely manage to get on the ballot. In times of crisis, or after years of persistent national decline, they become viable long-shot contenders by exciting a small base around some combination of hope and hate. The strongmen squeak into power with a plurality, often as part of a multi-party coalition, only because the establishment fields corrupt and absolutely unappealing candidates. Usually, establishment leaders and pundits laugh at the strongmen right up to election night, on which they receive the news with shock, disbelief, and tears. Once in office, the strongmen wield power with one simple aim: accumulate more power. Unlike lazy establishment leaders, all of the strongmen's instincts are aimed at wielding power to build power. They use a dizzying mix of tactics every day, including telling absurd lies and scandalous truths, co-opting opponents' causes, unpredictably bullying both enemies and friends. The establishment has no defense against this. Eventually, as existing crises intensify or new ones pop up, the strongmen get the opportunity to start eliminating dissent and democracy altogether. As they take steps to do this, they speak openly of their intentions, sometimes walking back their remarks, sometimes doubling down, always with a lighthearted, half-serious tone. Establishment leaders and pundits never lose faith that they are on the other side of some line that the strongmen will fear to cross–all the way up until the day they themselves are imprisoned or killed.
The novel authoritarian pandemic, and how to stop it
The novel authoritarian pandemic, and how to…
The novel authoritarian pandemic, and how to stop it
In democracies, crackpot, lying "strongmen" like Trump almost never come to power by winning a majority of votes. Once in power, they use their position to win over a majority of support by manipulating crises, real or manufactured. In normal times, figures like Trump can barely manage to get on the ballot. In times of crisis, or after years of persistent national decline, they become viable long-shot contenders by exciting a small base around some combination of hope and hate. The strongmen squeak into power with a plurality, often as part of a multi-party coalition, only because the establishment fields corrupt and absolutely unappealing candidates. Usually, establishment leaders and pundits laugh at the strongmen right up to election night, on which they receive the news with shock, disbelief, and tears. Once in office, the strongmen wield power with one simple aim: accumulate more power. Unlike lazy establishment leaders, all of the strongmen's instincts are aimed at wielding power to build power. They use a dizzying mix of tactics every day, including telling absurd lies and scandalous truths, co-opting opponents' causes, unpredictably bullying both enemies and friends. The establishment has no defense against this. Eventually, as existing crises intensify or new ones pop up, the strongmen get the opportunity to start eliminating dissent and democracy altogether. As they take steps to do this, they speak openly of their intentions, sometimes walking back their remarks, sometimes doubling down, always with a lighthearted, half-serious tone. Establishment leaders and pundits never lose faith that they are on the other side of some line that the strongmen will fear to cross–all the way up until the day they themselves are imprisoned or killed.