POL133 - American Authroritarianism

Authors: Steven Levitsky (Harvard University) & Lucan A. Way (University of Toronto)
Focus of Article: Analyzes the erosion of democracy in the U.S. in light of Donald Trump's return to office in 2024 and its implications for authoritarianism.

Initial Response in 2016: Trump’s election prompted a strong defense of democracy by the American establishment.
Current Indifference (2025): Many previously alarmed figures now downplay the threat to democracy, believing it has endured Trump’s first term.
Worrying Indicators:
- Freedom House downgraded the U.S. from a score of 92 to 83 between 2014-2021.
- Constitutional checks on presidential power have failed as Trump attempted to reverse election results without accountability.

Dominance Over the Republican Party: Trump now governs with loyalists, having purged anti-Trump factions.
Democratic Standards at Risk:
- Criteria for liberal democracy such as suffrage, fair elections, and civil liberties are threatened, but not leading to a complete dictatorship.
- Characterized instead by competitive authoritarianism, where elections occur but power is abused to disadvantage the opposition.
Historical Examples: Countries like Peru, Venezuela, Hungary exhibit similar competitive authoritarianism post-Cold War.

Cost of Public Opposition: Increased risk for those opposing the government may lead elites to refrain from resistance.
Potential Consequences:
- Targeting of Democratic Party donors and critical media outlets; suppression of dissent.
- Government harasses adversaries through legal and bureaucratic channels.

Political Weaponization: Government agencies may be used to systematically disadvantage the opposition—a tactic seen globally.
Historical Context: Prior reforms ensured a professional civil service to prevent politicization, but this may be eroded under Trump.
Purging Civil Servants: Examples from Hungary and Poland showcase efforts to replace professional staff with loyalists.
Executive Orders: Trump seeks to revive measures that could reduce civil service protections, altering the dynamic of federal employment.

Use of Prosecution: Autocratic regimes typically leverage the judicial system against rivals.
Trump's Legal Tactics:
- Pursued investigations into political opponents, worsening the climate of fear and leading many to withdraw from politics.
- Mention of hiring officials who support partisan prosecutions, further politicizing the justice system.

Opposition's Reaction: Self-censorship and withdrawal among critics, journalists, and business leaders.
Long-term Impacts: A weakened opposition enables the entrenchment of authoritarian practices.
Collective Action Problems: Individual self-preservation undermines societal resistance, threatening democratic institutions.

Potential Resilience Factors: Stronger American institutions compared to other competitive authoritarian regimes can act as buffers.
Divided Popular Support: Trump's historically low approval ratings may hinder his ability to launch full-scale authoritarian measures as successful prior autocrats have done.
Vibrant Civil Society: American civic organizations and opposition groups are better organized, financed, and electorally viable, making them harder to co-opt.

Urgency of Democratic Commitment:
- Opponents must remain active to counteract threats of authoritarianism under Trump’s administration.
- The fragility of democratic norms suggests that without continuous vigilance, the U.S. could easily slide further towards competitive authoritarianism.