Thomas Zimmer
It has been two months.
I wrote this on the weekend, about that space between (no longer) democracy and full-scale autocracy where America now exists, reflecting on why the Trumpists have been able to so swiftly overwhelm most of the country’s (evidently weak) democratic defenses:
https://thomaszimmer.substack.com/p/what-authoritarianism-means
Thomas Zimmer
It was reasonable, two months ago, to expect some measure of democratic resilience.
But if those tasked with defending democracy refuse to put up a proper fight, then how much does it really take to bring the system down?
The constitution doesn’t mean anything if no one enforces and defends it.
Thomas Zimmer
I revisit “The Path to Authoritarianism,” a crucial essay Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way published in Foreign Affairs in early February. It captured their expectations at the outset of the Trumpist regime – a powerful warning that has nevertheless been overtaken by events already.
Thomas Zimmer
In mere weeks, the Trumpists have managed to turn America from a democratic system – albeit one with significant flaws – into one that no longer deserves to be counted among the world’s democracies. America has crossed into competitive authoritarianism already. But where does it end?
Thomas Zimmer
Trump was unlikely to consolidate authoritarian rule, Levitsky and Way argued, and wouldn’t be able to install full-scale authoritarianism. Not because of some innate democratic disposition, but because American institutions and civil society seemed better equipped than in places like Hungary.
Thomas Zimmer
I open the piece with some snapshots that illustrated how far down the path to authoritarianism we already are. Now I could write a whole new opening paragraph with even more aggressive authoritarian assertions, all from just the past five days. Things are moving so fast.
Thomas Zimmer
There should not have been, at any moment, any doubt about the intentions of the Trumpist regime. Not just Trump, but also those in charge on the Right. Whatever moderating influences still existed in 2017, they are gone. The extremists are fully in charge. Who is going to stop them?
Thomas Zimmer
The political conflict isn’t over, nor is the outcome determined, or democracy destined to be extinguished for good. But let’s finally discard whatever residual notions of “It cannot happen here” or “They won’t be able to go that far” are still floating around. It is all happening right now.
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