Donald Trump has partook in many actions that concern many about the health of American democracy. While deeply explored by many people and complaints about him are common, we must not become numb to a very real threat. Political philosophers debate about many types of tactics that politicians with authoritarian proclivities partake in to gain favor or alter a system. Ozan Varol describes a theory known as Stealth Authoritarianism which is characterized by the use of law itself as a tool of repression. Democratic institutions are consolidated under executive influence and the executive uses their power as a way to intimidate opponents into submission.
For Donald Trump, examples of stealth authoritarianism over the past several years include the demands to recount the Georgia ballot three times following the 2020 election. He also attempts to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find 11,780 more votes for him in Georgia to flip the state. Many view these recounts as a propaganda strategy in an attempt to convince the American public that his loss is illegitimate. Trump refused to admit losing the 2020 election claiming that it was stolen. Trump continues today by claiming that the 2020 election was stolen from him and winning the 2024 election was proof that the public is on his side. Claims towards illegitimate elections and potential corruption within democratic institutions can be a strategy towards dismantling those institutions themselves. Another example of Stealth Authoritarianism is Trump’s creation of the DOGE(Department of Government Efficiency).
This is an example of Stealth Authoritarianism because while the president does not necessarily have the authority to create government departments, they have the power to reorganize them. Trump reorganizes the United States Digital Service (USDS) into the DOGE which is created to route out inefficiencies within the federal government. While DOGE does not legally have power to fire government employees, they have been firing employees illegally causing huge legal issues for the government. Trump reorders the United States Digital Service with his continued use of the executive order. Trump’s use of executive orders amongst modern American presidents is extremely high and many believe that he uses his executive power act quickly. Trump’s use of the Department of Homeland Security fits within this theory as well.
The Department of Homeland Security’s main tasks are protecting the United States from international threats such as terrorism while also tasked with border protection and immigration enforcement. Trump has weaponized an agency under the Department of Homeland Security known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is done by expanding the agency and using it on a much larger scale deporting immigrants and detaining them in more than problematic ways. These new aggressive measures have led to events such as the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. One was shot while driving a vehicle and the other was held on the ground and shot.
The main takeaway from Ozan Verol’s Stealth Authoritarianism should signal to us a need to keep a close eye on individuals who use legal pathways to push their agendas aggressively. Finding loopholes in order to do authoritarian actions is done by individuals who have personal interests towards achieving power. It is important to remember that just because Democratic Institutions are present in our society, checks and balances may not be enough to stop people with authoritarian goals.
Your analysis of “Stealth Authoritarianism” effectively illustrates how democratic erosion often occurs through executive aggrandizement rather than a sudden coup.
Your points align closely with Robert Dahl’s concept of ‘Polyarchy’. As I learned, for a system to remain democratic, it requires the ‘Public Contestation’, which is the latent possibility that an incumbent can lose from the future candidate. Your post highlights how the present action of Trump government is dismantling this. Especially, the reason why “Stealth Authoritarianism”, which strengthens power by finding loopholes within the legal framework, is dangerous is that it lets people recognize him as following the democratic procedure superficially. This government deceives people so that they do not perceive the wrong way directly. I believe the examples that you wrote in this post show this very well.