Many scholars of democracy have noticed that a backlash to globalization-induced economic and social dislocation was leading people to embrace authoritarian leaders, especially populists. In a broad sense, an authoritarian regime is one in which the single most powerful person exercises almost unlimited power over the state and its citizens. Whether or not they are totalitarian, fascist, or communist, aspiring modern autocrats usually employ the same seven basic tactics in pursuit of power. Politicizing Independent Institutions — All democracies have functions that operate independently of partisan political actors, from law enforcement to central banking. Aspiring authoritarians seek to politicize these institutions and capture their control. Spreading Disinformation — Authoritarians often use propaganda to stoke popular fear and distrust of foreigners, minorities, and the press. Quashing Dissent — Strong democracies have strong oppositions and an independent media. Aspiring authoritarians quash dissent by delegitimizing the other side, sowing division, and turning the many against the few.
Coercive Power — Modern authoritarians wield state violence to maintain their grip on power and punish those who oppose them. Many also seek to leverage their growing economic clout and waning pressure from democracies by building a broader international order that supports their abusive practices.
Authoritarians systematically weaken the democratic guardrails of their societies. They use “salami tactics,” slowly slicing away at democracy a little bit at a time. Sometimes this strategy is deliberate and calculated, but other times it’s opportunistic or myopic. By understanding the authoritarian playbook, we can better isolate the clear and immediate dangers to democracy from partisan outrage and sensational spin. We can also begin to form large, diverse, cross-partisan and cross-ideological pro-democracy fronts and movements with a shared vision, strategy, and clear, concrete demands.
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