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Having just discussed Anne Applebaum’s Autocracy, Inc., I was planning to relate that book to Donald Trump. Then I decided not to take on the task of trying to list his many autocratic tendencies and violations of democratic norms. Instead, I will discuss the more general issue: How does one go about becoming an autocratic ruler within a democratic society? Trump is so vain that he will probably think this post is about him anyway, but I can’t help that.
Suppose you are aspiring to become the closest thing to a dictator the United States can produce. You will need to take a good look at yourself and see if you have what it takes. A narcissistic personality is a plus. Be so much in love with yourself that you place yourself above everybody else, believing that you alone can solve the country’s problems. If you are a really good candidate for psychotherapy, you can actually hate yourself deep down, but be sure to disguise that feeling with bluster and braggadocio.
You will also need an obsession with wealth and power. You are probably a product of authoritarian parenting, with a much greater emphasis on control than emotional support. This left you with a craving to be the one in control yourself. You also like capitalism more than you like democracy, because of the opportunities it offers to amass wealth. You are rather contemptuous of rules and regulations that would get in your way.
This being a formal democracy, your success in becoming an autocrat probably depends on being elected president. Unless you want to finance your own campaign, which would seriously cut into your wealth, you will need to appeal to some American oligarchs for large campaign contributions. The best strategy there is to assure them quietly that you will cut their taxes or free them from some inconvenient regulations.
You will also need a lot of popular appeal, for votes and smaller contributions. Since you have devoted your life to personal success rather than public service, you are probably a political outsider with little policy-making experience. That can work to your advantage however, since you can claim to represent “ordinary Americans” instead of those educated “elites” who run Washington. You can also present yourself as a culture warrior defending the dominant race and religion against the inroads of cultural minorities. Be sure to blame the problems of the country on alien influences, especially immigrants from nonwhite and/or non-Christian countries.
The next thing to do is claim such a strong popular mandate that winning elections is only a formality. Declare that you cannot possibly lose unless the election is rigged. That suits your personality anyway, since you cannot stand not coming out on top, and you love putting others down. You have little to offer as far as creative policy proposals, so you will have to run a negative campaign, playing on the fears of your supporters. Smear your opponents as dishonest and incompetent, especially if they are more honest and competent than you are. Douse the electorate with a “fire hose of falsehoods” to undermine honest debate and informed voting, two of the hallmarks of democracy.
Once in office, concentrate as much power in your own hands as possible. Appoint judges who have a broad view of executive power. Reclassify non-partisan positions as political appointments, so you can replace policy experts with loyalists to yourself. Weaponize the Justice Department and Congressional investigative committees against your opponents. Try to remain in power as long as possible, preferably for life. Win elections by whatever means you can, legal or nonlegal. If you appear to have lost, try to overturn the result. If you are impeached, rely on party loyalists to acquit you. If you are prosecuted for crimes, rely on friendly judges to grant you immunity.
The more autocratic you become, the more the resources of Autocracy, Inc. are at your disposal. Admire and support other autocrats, overlooking their own violations of democratic norms or human rights. Do your best to weaken democratic alliances such as NATO. Accept the assistance of other autocrats who want to help you get elected and remain in office. They can help by running their own smear campaigns or hacking into your opponents’ accounts. In a pinch, you can always accept a large campaign contribution from a foreign dictator, but that’s illegal, so be sure to launder that money well.
I am sorry to have to warn you—actually, I’m relieved—that the institutions of democratic society may hold, and your bid for autocracy may ultimately land you in jail.
I wish I could claim that I am just exercising my fertile imagination about all this. On the contrary—all I’ve done is follow the news.
Beneath the Surface 