Exposing the Authoritarian Playbook: Defending Democracy

Published March 21, 2025

Authoritarian tactics threaten democracies worldwide. Understanding their strategies is our first line of defense.

by Brenda Foster

The Modern Authoritarian Threat

Support Rate: Median support for authoritarian systems across 24 nations is 31%

Democracies at risk from gradual erosion tactics 100+ : 15+ years of democratic decline globally

Modern authoritarians don’t seize power overnight. They use “salami tactics,” slicing away democratic norms bit by bit.

The 7 Tactics of the Authoritarian Playbook

1.Politicizing independent institutions

2. Capturing courts, agencies, and regulatory bodies

3. Spreading disinformation

4. Flooding media with false narratives

5. Aggrandizing executive power

6. Expanding authority beyond constitutional limits

7. Quashing dissent

Silencing critics through intimidation or force, scapegoating vulnerable communities, creating “enemies” to rally supporters, corrupting elections, manipulating voting access and results

Stoking violence

Encouraging physical intimidation of opponents

Tactic Spotlight: Politicizing Institutions

Executive Dominance

Complete authority with minimal checks

Judicial Capture

Courts rule in regime’s favor

Institutional Takeover

Loyalty trumps merit in appointments

Hungary’s Orbán rewrote the constitution to serve his agenda. This undermines checks and balances, enabling further power grabs.

Tactic Spotlight: Spreading Disinformation

Create False Narrative – Invent stories that serve regime goals

Amplify Through Media – Use social platforms to spread lies

Public Confusion – Citizens can’t distinguish truth from lies

Political Advantage – Take action while public is confused

False information undermines trust in democracy itself. Social media algorithms accelerate the spread of lies far beyond traditional propaganda.

Who Supports Authoritarianism?

43% Right-Wing

35% Left-Wing

41% Lower Income

33% Higher Income

40% Under 30

30% Over 60

Support for authoritarianism varies by ideology and economics. Right-leaning and lower-income groups show higher support in many regions.

Resisting the Authoritarian Playbook

Strengthen democratic institutions.

Support independent courts, media, and civil service.

Promote media literacy.

Teach citizens to identify disinformation.

Support independent journalism.

Fund fact-based reporting and fact-checking.

Protect voting rights.

Ensure free, fair, and accessible elections.

Democratic resilience requires active citizenship. Each person plays a role in preserving democratic norms through civic engagement.

Conclusion: The Stakes for Democracy

Individual Rights

Authoritarianism threatens free speech, fair trials, and equality under law. Personal freedoms diminish as power concentrates.

Collective Action

Defending democracy requires coordination across society. Civil society organizations, media, and citizens must work together.

Knowledge as Power

Understanding authoritarian tactics is our first defense. Recognizing the playbook helps us respond effectively.

The future of democracy depends on our collective vigilance. By exposing the authoritarian playbook, we strengthen our capacity to resist.