What happens when democracy’s greatest strengths—openness, freedom and inclusivity—are turned against it? Imagine waking up in a world where elections still occur, but their outcomes are predetermined. Where truth is suffocated under waves of propaganda and dissent is silenced with the very laws meant to protect it. This dystopian vision is no longer distant — it is a reality taking shape in parts of the world. And it could be our future if we fail to act.
As Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argue in How Democracies Die, democracies rarely collapse through violent coups. Instead, they erode gradually, often at the hands of elected leaders who subvert democratic norms while claiming to protect them. Democracies do not die in darkness; they unravel in plain sight, as apathy and inaction allow their foundations to crumble. Silence becomes complicity; action is our only path forward.
Populism thrives on division. By pitting “the people” against elites, minorities, or immigrants, it weaponizes fear and frustration, offering simplistic solutions to complex problems. Its authoritarian counterpart promises “strong leadership” at the cost of eroding checks and balances, silencing dissent and dismantling civil liberties.
Levitsky and Ziblatt identify four warning signs of authoritarian behavior in leaders: rejection of democratic rules, denial of opponents’ legitimacy, tolerance or encouragement of violence and readiness to curtail freedoms. These tactics form a predictable playbook. Populists exploit disinformation, framed as “authenticity,” to discredit traditional media, manipulate elections and normalize mistrust in democratic institutions.
Recent examples illustrate these strategies: voter suppression laws targeting marginalized groups, propaganda campaigns eroding public trust in institutions and leaders framing dissent as treachery. Left unchecked, these methods risk hollowing out democracies, leaving behind institutions that appear intact but lack democratic principles.
Karl Popper, in The Open Society and Its Enemies, warned that to preserve a tolerant society, we must refuse to tolerate intolerance. Similarly, How Democracies Die highlights how the erosion of unwritten democratic norms — such as mutual toleration and institutional forbearance — creates fertile ground for authoritarianism. When norms collapse, hate speech, disinformation and authoritarian tactics exploit democracy’s openness to dismantle it from within.
Defending democracy does not mean abandoning its principles but fortifying them. Laws against hate speech, safeguards against disinformation and measures to protect electoral integrity are not overreaches; they are essential defenses. A society that tolerates intolerance and neglects democratic norms invites its own destruction.
Hannah Arendt observed that totalitarianism thrives on isolation. By disconnecting individuals from collective action, authoritarian movements create fear and disempowerment. Levitsky and Ziblatt emphasize that isolation is compounded when trust in institutions and norms erodes. The antidote is to rebuild public spaces — both physical and digital — where citizens can engage in dialogue and decision-making.
Populist movements dominate these spaces with disinformation and divisive rhetoric. To counter this, democracies must protect forums where ideas flourish and ensure that public spaces promote inclusion, not division. Town halls, independent journalism and civic engagement platforms can become arenas for truth and collaboration.
Arendt and How Democracies Die remind us that democracy’s strength lies in its ability to connect people. Isolation empowers authoritarianism; dialogue and connection are democracy’s strongest defenses.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. Its survival depends on the active participation of every individual. Levitsky and Ziblatt argue that ordinary citizens play a critical role in holding leaders accountable and defending democratic norms. Speak out against hate and disinformation. Join initiatives that promote dialogue and civic engagement. Support independent media and transparent institutions. And, above all, vote — and encourage others to do the same.
Resistance alone is insufficient. Democracy’s defenders must also create: spaces for dialogue, cultures of trust, and systems of equity. The fight for democracy is ultimately a fight for a society where every voice is valued and every individual has a stake in shaping the future.
Democracy thrives when we protect it together. By standing up for truth, defending justice, and fostering inclusion, we can ensure a future where every voice is heard and every person has a stake in shaping our shared world. The choices we make today will define the legacy we leave behind—a society built on equality, freedom and hope. The fight for democracy is a fight for a better tomorrow, and it’s one we can win.
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