The phrase "how democracies die" has become a haunting refrain in political discourse, reflecting growing concerns about the stability of democratic systems worldwide. Democracies, once seen as the ultimate safeguard of freedom and equality, are increasingly under threat-not from external forces, but from within. Understanding how democracies die is crucial to preventing their collapse and preserving the rights and freedoms they guarantee.
The Old Script: Coups and ViolenceTraditionally, democracies died in dramatic and violent ways. Military coups, armed insurrections, and sudden overthrows were the primary mechanisms of democratic collapse. During the 20th century, particularly in the Cold War era, military coups were responsible for the majority of democratic breakdowns. Countries like Chile, Argentina, and Greece saw their democracies dismantled by generals who seized power through force.
The 1973 coup in Chile is a stark example. President Salvador Allende, a democratically elected leader, was overthrown by General Augusto Pinochet. The bombing of La Moneda palace and Allende's death marked the end of Chilean democracy. Similar stories unfolded in Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand, where military power crushed democratic institutions.
But this is no longer the primary way democracies die. While military coups still occur, they are increasingly rare. Instead,
democracies today face a more subtle and insidious threat-one that comes not from the barrel of a gun but from within the system itself.
The New Threat: Erosion from WithinIn the modern era, democracies die not at the hands of generals but of elected leaders. These leaders, often initially popular, gradually undermine the very institutions that brought them to power. They use legal means-constitutional amendments, court packing, and electoral manipulation-to erode democratic norms and consolidate power.
Venezuela provides a chilling example. Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998 as a populist outsider, promising to fight corruption and empower the poor. Initially, he operated within democratic frameworks, winning elections and rewriting the constitution. But over time, he began to dismantle democratic institutions. He packed the courts, silenced the media, and eliminated term limits. By the time of his death in 2013, Venezuela was no longer a democracy but an autocracy masquerading as one.
This pattern is not unique to Venezuela. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has systematically weakened democratic institutions, from the judiciary to the free press. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used referendums and constitutional changes to centralize power. In the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte has undermined the rule of law while maintaining a democratic facade.
