How Democracies Die: The 5-Step Playbook to Autocracy

Democracy Doesn't Die in Darkness—It Dies in Apathy

I've been watching since January 20th. Before that, I didn't figure there was much to worry about. I knew, however, that on that day things would change. I underestimated how abruptly it would happen.

For centuries, people have assumed democracy is permanent. They believe that as long as elections happen, freedom is secure. But history proves otherwise. Democracy is fragile, and it follows a predictable path when it collapses. This essay outlines the 5-Step Playbook used by authoritarian leaders worldwide—past and present—to dismantle democracy and consolidate power.

Step 1 - Attack the Truth (Destroy Trust in Media & Institutions)

Before a democracy can be overthrown, public trust must be eroded. The first step is to create confusion and doubt about what is real and what is not. Leaders start by demonizing the press, labeling journalists as the 'enemy of the people' and accusing them of spreading lies. In the 1970s, Richard Nixon tried this, but was unsuccessful. Simultaneously, they discredit the courts, claiming judges are corrupt or biased. Elections are undermined by spreading false claims about voter fraud and rigging, and conspiracy theories are promoted to make facts subjective, ensuring that only the leader's narrative prevails.

Historical Examples:

• Adolf Hitler and the 'Lügenpresse' – Hitler popularized the term 'Lügenpresse' (lying press) to discredit journalists. He portrayed the media as enemies of the German people, justifying state censorship and replacing independent journalism with Nazi-controlled propaganda.

• Vladimir Putin and Russian Media Control – Over the years, Putin systematically dismantled independent media in Russia, using state-controlled outlets to push his agenda. Journalists like Anna Politkovskaya, who criticized Putin, were assassinated.

• Donald Trump and 'Fake News' – Trump repeatedly attacked the mainstream media, branding them as 'fake news' to undermine public trust in factual reporting. His rhetoric emboldened threats against journalists and contributed to the polarization of public discourse.

Step 2 - Capture Elections (Make It Impossible to Lose)

Once trust is eroded, the next step is ensuring the leader and their party can never lose an election. They achieve this by rigging districts through gerrymandering, suppressing voters with restrictive ID laws and poll closures, taking over election offices by installing loyalists, and refusing to concede defeat, instead claiming fraud without evidence.

Historical Examples:

• Hugo Chávez and Venezuelan Election Manipulation – Chávez restructured Venezuela's election commission with loyalists, allowing him to remain in power while weakening opposition efforts.

• Viktor Orbán and Hungary’s Gerrymandering – Orbán redrew electoral districts in a way that ensured his party, Fidesz, retained control despite declining popularity.

• Trump and the 2020 Election – Trump pressured Georgia’s Secretary of State to 'find votes' and encouraged lawmakers to reject certified election results, setting a dangerous precedent.

Step 3 - Weaponize the Law (Use Courts & Police to Silence Critics)

A strong democracy requires fair and independent legal systems. Authoritarians work to dismantle them by packing the courts with loyalists who rule in favor of the leader, prosecuting political opponents under bogus charges, arresting protesters under the guise of public safety, and criminalizing dissent under vague 'national security' laws.

Historical Examples:

• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkey’s Judiciary Purge – Following a failed coup attempt in 2016, Erdoğan arrested thousands of judges, replacing them with his allies to secure unchecked control.

• Putin and Alexei Navalny – Putin's biggest critic, Navalny, was poisoned and later imprisoned under dubious charges to prevent him from running in elections.

• Trump and DOJ Politicization – Trump repeatedly attempted to use the Department of Justice to investigate political rivals, setting a dangerous norm for presidential overreach.

Step 4 - Normalize Violence & Political Persecution

Once the law is weaponized, violence and intimidation become standard tools of control. Leaders encourage political violence by inciting their supporters to attack opponents, refusing to condemn extremists, using law enforcement against peaceful protests, and justifying brutality by claiming it is necessary to maintain 'law and order.'

Historical Examples:

• Hitler and the Brownshirts – Hitler’s paramilitary group, the SA (Brownshirts), used street violence to intimidate opposition parties before the Nazi takeover.

• The January 6th Capitol Riot – Trump incited his supporters to storm the Capitol in an attempt to overturn election results, demonstrating a willingness to use political violence to maintain power.

• Jair Bolsonaro and Police Brutality – Bolsonaro encouraged police to use excessive force, often targeting left-wing activists and critics. en.wikipedia.org

Chapter 5: Step 5 - Remove the Final Checks (End Democracy Entirely)

The final step is eliminating democracy, often while pretending it still exists. Leaders abolish term limits, ensuring they remain in power indefinitely, ban or weaken opposition parties to prevent real competition, rewrite the constitution to remove checks and balances, and hold sham elections where results are predetermined.

Historical Examples:

• Putin and Russia’s Constitutional Change – Putin altered the Russian Constitution to allow himself to remain in power indefinitely, effectively making elections meaningless. en.wikipedia.org

• Xi Jinping and China's Removal of Term Limits – In 2018, China’s National People’s Congress eliminated presidential term limits, allowing Xi to rule indefinitely. en.wikipedia.org

• Trump’s Third Term Suggestion – Trump has openly suggested that he 'deserves' more than two terms, normalizing rhetoric that erodes democratic traditions. en.wikipedia.org

Conclusion: Democracy Dies When People Stop Fighting for It

The fall of democracy is never inevitable, but it happens when people fail to resist. The warning signs are here. The playbook is already in motion. What are you going to do?

What You Can Do:

• Vote in Every Election – Local, state, and federal elections all matter.

• Support Independent Journalism – A free press is democracy’s backbone.

• Speak Up Against Authoritarianism – Don’t let anti-democratic rhetoric become normal.

• Defend the Right to Protest – Civil resistance has stopped dictators before

Sources

• Akyol, M. (2018). Turkey’s Turn to Autocracy. Oxford University Press.

• Applebaum, A. (2020). Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism. Doubleday.

• Evans, R. J. (2005). The Third Reich in Power: How the Nazis Won Over the Hearts and Minds of a Nation. Penguin Books.

• Galeotti, M. (2019). We Need to Talk About Putin: How the West Gets Him Wrong. Ebury Press.

• Gessen, M. (2012). The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. Riverhead Books.

• Hunter, W. (2019). The Transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil, 1989–2009. Cambridge University Press.

• Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2018). How Democracies Die. Crown Publishing.

• Marantz, A. (2020). Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation. Viking.

• McGregor, R. (2019). Xi Jinping: The Backlash. Lowy Institute.

• Rosenberg, M. (2022). The January 6 Report: Findings from the Select Committee to Investigate the Attack on the U.S. Capitol. New York Times Books.

• Shirer, W. L. (1960). The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany. Simon & Schuster.

• Stanovaya, T. (2020). “Putin's Constitutional Changes: A Bluff or a Power Grab?” Carnegie Moscow Center.

• Woodward, B., & Costa, R. (2021). Peril. Simon & Schuster.