Authoritarianism: A Clear and Present Danger

Authoritarianism is on the rise globally and poses a serious threat to civil society. We define this term and show the difference between old- and new-school autocrats. Historical data demonstrate a developmental course for how autocracies start, persist, and end. They also show democracy occurs in waves, rising and falling at different periods over time. Much research attention has focused on right-wing authoritarianism. To balance this, we detail features of the left-wing version as well and its relation to postmodernism. We then look at the authoritarian personality type and how easy it is for a would-be dictator to hijack populist sentiment and dismantle democratic institutions. Polarization, political capture and economic inequality are highlighted as three key factors that explain democratic erosion in the U.S. and around the world. We conclude with suggestions for how to stop dictatorships and reform societies to make them more resilient to autocratic takeover.