Introduction
This On the Move Masterclass is led by Ivan Marovic, who helped lead the grassroots movement that famously toppled a dictator in Serbia in 2001. He describes how authoritarianism is a calculated project rather than a series of accidents.
There are more autocracies than democracies and over 70% of people worldwide live under some form of authoritarian rule. By manufacturing moral panic, scapegoating minorities, weaponing crisis and questioning truth, authoritarian leaders mobilize support and justify repression. This has led to a crisis for freedom, justice and civic space globally. This is not happening in isolation. The authoritarian playbook is being copied the world over and it’s time for a counterstrategy.
Coopting Institutions
Authoritarian rule advances by eroding democratic institutions from within while maintaining a democratic facade. The pillars which, in some cases, once supported democracy now help to erode it. To counter this trend, we need to identify the institutions without which an authoritarian’s power would collapse – we call these the Pillars of Power.
The media, courts, police and military, election commissions and government institutions, amongst others, are key pillars of either democracy or the foundations of oppressive systems. Being able to analyse these pillars and plan actions to counter their decline or remove their support of the autocrat is essential.
Let’s explore in a little more detail the modus operandi of the aspiring dictator, which institutions they will target first and why.
Autocrats’ initial rise is often financed by a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals with a vested interest in controlling both the economy and the political decision-making processes. After that, a good starting point is to control the media. Concentrating media ownership in the hands of the state or sympathetic wealthy oligarchs create a one-dimensional public narrative with the sole purpose of maintaining cycles of power and wealth.
The monopolisation of internet infrastructure and services by the ‘inner circle oligarchs’ gives autocrats control over communication. Algorithms come to dictate ‘truth’. Their tactics include surveillance tools, attacks on free speech, promotion of mis- and disinformation and internet blackouts.
Taking control of the courts is essential because only a functioning judiciary can hold autocrats to account. Targeting opponents and removing bureaucratic obstacles lead to total dominance.
Politicising or ensuring political loyalty of the police or military give autocrats a private army to help them use violence and fear to take control, suppress dissent and jail, torture or kill opponents.
Installing profit-driven loyalists to take control of government institutions leads to the prioritisation of profit for the inner circle and disregards the real purpose of the institution itself.
In some instances, autocrats close down government institutions all together to consolidate power, eliminate checks and balances, and reduce the risk of internal challenges to their rule.
Parliament, election commissions, political parties and financial institutions are all next in line.
As each pillar falls into the sphere of the autocrats, it becomes more difficult to reclaim the institutions for democracy.
Pillars of Power
Having a tool to analyse how power is upheld is essential to help us focus our struggle. As Eric Stoner put it,
the power of even the most charismatic or ruthless leader is contingent upon the support of key institutions, themselves vulnerable to popular action or withdrawal of consent from the general population…One of the main reasons that so many injustices persist is not that the powerful can simply do whatever they want with impunity, but that most people are ignorant of the power they can wield by withdrawing their consent.
Countering Authoritarianism by Building Strategy, Safety and Movement Sustainability
The best way to avoid burnout is to experience progress, to feel that your work contributes to real change and that you are not simply absorbing repression without direction, you are replacing isolation and resignation with collective purpose.
The Global Social Movement Centre (MOVE) has developed this tool, which helps you analyse which level of repression your movement is currently facing and provides counterstrategies that are tailored to be most effective at each repression level, while keeping you and your fellow activists safe to continue the struggle and build more people power.
Check out our Steps of Repression and Counterstrategies tool to get some inspiration.
Watch Understanding the Authoritarian Playbook Video
On The Move Masterclass: Understanding the Authoritarian Playbook
Video Contents
- Introducing the Authoritarian Playbook
- Anticipatory Obedience
- Divide and Rule (Salami Tactics)
- How civil society can fight back
- Look for unexpected allies
- Authoritarians’ weakest point
- Maintaining Nonviolent Discipline
- Noncooperation
- Trigger Events
- Summary
Resources for Trainers and Learners
- Teach Power: Pillars of Power (Slides)
Use this resource to train others in how to use the Pillars of Power Analysis in their own context. - Learn: Noncooperation 101 (Slides)
Explore Freedom Trainer’s Course on Authoritarianism and Noncooperation. - Learn: GOLD Courses
Do the Interactive, Self Paced Mini Courses on Organising: Global Organizing and Leadership Development GOLD.
Explore Further
- Authoritarianism: How You Know It When You See It
- The Path of Most Resistance: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Nonviolent Campaigns
- Pillars of Support: Start Here
- Democracy Undone: The Authoritarian’s Playbook
- Confronting Authoritarianism and Organizing Resistance: Case Studies and Lessons Learned
- The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding
- Safeguarding Civic Space: Harnessing Narrative Change to Restore Public Trust in Civil Society Organisations
- Resisting Authoritarianism
- Can Nonviolent Struggle Defeat a Dictator? This Database Emphatically says Yes
- Understanding Rising Authoritarianism
- Democracy Resource Hub
