“The drift into authoritarianism doesn’t always set off alarm bells. Citizens are often slow to realize that their democracy is being dismantled even as it happens before their eyes.” Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblat - How Democracies Die
Today, the slide from democracy to autocracy happens in small increments, over a period of time. Unlike the coup that ends an elected regime abruptly and, in most cases violently; democracies, in the modern political world are killed slowly by the leaders who are elected to protect that very system which they used to get to power in the first place. This, is the premise of the book “How Democracies Die”
Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt are Harvard University’s political scientists and this book by them comes at a time, when democracies across the world are being threatened by right wing alpha male leaders. The book is a warning, an alarm, to the ascension of demagogues and helps to identify the preceding signs. Although the book focuses on the US (the idea of the book is prompted by the election of Trump) it uses case studies of leaders from other countries including Putin in Russia, Erdoğan in Turkey, Orbán in Hungary and Maduro in Venezuela. Based on these studies, the authors outline four key indicators, or warning signs, of authoritarian behavior that is detrimental to democracy (1) the rejection, in words or action, of the democratic rules of the game, (2) the denial of the legitimacy of political opponents, (3) toleration or encouragement of violence, and (4) a willingness to curtail civil liberties of opponents, including the media. If we consider these key indicators, there is no denying the fact that Democracies across the world are facing existential threats from big, loud mouthed and divisive nationalist leaders.
In addition to the 4 indicators, the authors also identify two crucial informal norms (the unspoken/unwritten rules) as the pillars of democracy (other than the formal institutions and processes), (1) mutual toleration and (2) institutional forbearance. These informal norms are also being undermined in the recent times, when leaders are focusing on their short-term gains as against the long-term benefits for the nation/people they govern.
The book could have had an increased focus on influence of social media in the democratic process. We have seen in the recent elections of US and India that social media has played a significant role in swaying the though process of voters and thereby the votes and results. Social media (ab)use had a similar effect on the Brexit vote too. We also have most of the leaders today communicating through this medium rather than the traditional media. At times it feels like the US is governed through a series of Twitter posts.
The solutions provided in the book are primarily through lessons from history, which may or may not be applicable in today's world. The solutions also sound too idealistic in the current environment. Nevertheless, this is an interesting and important book which has come out at an appropriate time, especially for us. While we are not seeing all the 4 indicators consistently, there surely are green shoots here and there. As for the 2 informal norms (mutual toleration and institutional forbearance), I am sure the evidence is there for everyone to see (esp., if you watch the 9:00 P.M. special debates). The book is even more important now, considering that there is no visible or audible political opposition today in this country – which, for me, is the first sign of the slide in a democracy.
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