Slate Daily Feed The Fast Track To Autocracy
Jan 3, 2026
Kim Lane-Scheppele, a law and sociology scholar from Princeton, sheds light on the rapid shift toward autocracy in the U.S. after recent elections. She explores how democratically elected leaders can undermine democratic norms through legal maneuvers, referencing tactics used in nations like Hungary. The conversation highlights the chilling parallels between current events and global autocratic strategies, emphasizing the role of legalism and the importance of civil society in resisting authoritarianism. Expect insights on maintaining hope and solidarity in challenging times.
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Elected Autocrats Use Law To Take Power
- Autocrats usually win through elections and then slowly disable checks, not with tanks in the streets.
- Kim Lane Scheppele warns the U.S. shows the same pattern seen in Russia and Hungary where law masks the takeover.
Private Legal Playbooks Accelerate Takeovers
- Private groups write laws and playbooks that incoming executives then rapidly implement.
- Scheppele highlights Project 2025 and Heritage-linked plans as templates for fast consolidation.
Neutralize The Bureaucracy To Entrench Rule
- Capturing the civil service and terrifying bureaucrats is a key early step to neutralize opposition.
- Scheppele compares reassignments, forced leaves, and firings to Viktor Orbán's purges of Hungarian civil servants.