The first sign is a weak commitment to the democratic rules of the game. Trump met this measure when he questioned the legitimacy of the electoral process and made the unprecedented suggestion that he...

Over the past two years, we have watched politicians say and do things that are unprecedented in the United States-but that we recognize as having been the precursors of democratic crisis in other...

primaries could lead to the appearance of extremist candidates and demagogues who, unrestrained by party allegiances, have little to lose by stirring up mass hatreds or making absurd promises.

Senator Joseph McCarthy, who used the Cold War fear of communist subversion to promote blacklisting, censorship, and book banning, enjoyed wide backing among the American public. At the height of...

the United States has an impressive record of gatekeeping. Both Democrats and Republicans have confronted extremist figures on their fringes, some of whom enjoyed considerable public support. For...

Would-be autocrats often use economic crises, natural disasters, and especially security threats-wars, armed insurgencies, or terrorist attacks-to justify antidemocratic measures.

Building on Linz's work, we have developed a set of four behavioral warning signs that can help us know an authoritarian when we see one. We should worry when a politician 1} rejects, in words or...

governments prefer to co-opt popular cultural figures or reach a mutual accommodation with them, allowing them to continue their work as long as they stay out of politics.

Finally, elected autocrats often try to silence cultural figures-artists, intellectuals, pop stars, athletes-whose popularity or moral standing makes them potential threats.

As key media outlets are assaulted, others grow wary and begin to practice self-censorship.

Governments may also use their control of referees to "legally" sideline the opposition media, often through libel or defamation suits.

day after Hitler became chancellor, a prominent conservative who aided him admitted, I have just committed the greatest stupidity of my life; I have allied myself with the greatest demagogue in world...

Players who cannot be bought must be weakened by other means.

The easiest way to deal with potential opponents is to buy them off.

The abdication of political responsibility by existing leaders often marks a nation's first step toward authoritarianism.

Governments that cannot remove independent judges may bypass them through court packing.

Most often, the capture of the referees is done by quietly firing civil servants and other nonpartisan officials and replacing them with loyalists.

The president may break the law, threaten citizens' rights, and even violate the constitution without having to worry that such abuse will be investigated or censured. With the courts packed and law...