> Democracy is about having choices - and authoritarianism is about not having them, says lawyer and writer Ian Bassin.
> These authoritarian movements work like Trojan horses. Typically, their leader comes to power through an election and once inside dismantles the system from within. And and they have a playbook for doing so. The authoritarian playbook.
> They politicize independent institutions like the civil service, law enforcement, and eventually the military.
> Second, they spread disinformation including from the government.
> Third, they arrandise executive power and undermine checks and balances.
> Fourth, they quash descent from limiting what can be said and taught and read to using the regulatory state to punish critics.
> Fifth, they scapegoat and delegitimize vulnerable groups. This has been the tyrantʼs favorite tool since antiquity because if you can pit people against each other on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation, itʼs easier to pick their pockets of money and power.
> Six, they corrupt elections.
> And finally, they incite violence.
> Itʼs not that people openly support authoritarianism or even secretly favor it. But in a time of rapid change and uncertainty, it can be tempting to think the solution is just to give someone a little bit more power.
mdp2021•5mo ago
> These authoritarian movements work like Trojan horses. Typically, their leader comes to power through an election and once inside dismantles the system from within. And and they have a playbook for doing so. The authoritarian playbook.
> They politicize independent institutions like the civil service, law enforcement, and eventually the military.
> Second, they spread disinformation including from the government.
> Third, they arrandise executive power and undermine checks and balances.
> Fourth, they quash descent from limiting what can be said and taught and read to using the regulatory state to punish critics.
> Fifth, they scapegoat and delegitimize vulnerable groups. This has been the tyrantʼs favorite tool since antiquity because if you can pit people against each other on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation, itʼs easier to pick their pockets of money and power.
> Six, they corrupt elections.
> And finally, they incite violence.
> Itʼs not that people openly support authoritarianism or even secretly favor it. But in a time of rapid change and uncertainty, it can be tempting to think the solution is just to give someone a little bit more power.
Full talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-vVO3nRFzI