Soft Authoritarianism: A Gradual Erosion of Democratic Institutions
Summary
Soft authoritarianism describes how elected leaders gradually weaken courts, parliaments, media, and other democratic institutions while keeping elections and the appearance of democracy intact. The article explains how populist rhetoric, legal changes, and fear-based narratives can hollow out democracy from within.
Key Points
- Elected leaders can erode democracy without coups by slowly weakening institutions through legal and political means.
- The article highlights mutual legitimacy and institutional restraint as key norms that sustain democracy.
- Populist leaders often claim to represent only the “real people,” undermining pluralism and minority rights.
- Social media, national-security narratives, and scapegoating are used to mobilize support and justify institutional capture.
