authoritarianism
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Authoritarian Political Theater: The Erratic Star, the Stage Manager, and the Bumbling Loyalists
In an authoritarian regime, the leader is the star, but not always the disciplined kind. Some are erratic, impulsive, and unpredictable, grabbing the spotlight with sudden proclamations and dramatic gestures. Every appearance feels improvised, thrilling supporters and keeping their critics off balance. Behind the scenes is the stage manager: the hidden architect of messaging, timing,…
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Polarize to Paralyze: How Authoritarian Leaders Exploit Conflict
Authoritarian leaders blame political opponents and stigmatize them as dangerous, immoral, or existential threats. They avoid shared responsibility and portray their opponents as not just having opposing views, but as fundamentally bad or violent. They create martyrs or symbolic figures to galvanize their base and threaten punitive responses that emphasize state power and justice that’s…
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Admire. Obey. Defend. The Cult of Personality
A cult of personality happens when a public figure (usually a political leader) builds an image of themselves that is larger-than-life. Their followers start to treat that image as unquestionable and central to their own identity. It’s not literally a “cult” in the religious sense, but it shares some similarities in the way people admire,…
Cats Against Authoritarianism 