Title: The Death of Democracy in 2024: A Populist Dictator’s Legacy
Sub-heading: The Erosion of Democratic Norms and the Rule of Law Under a Populist Autocrat
In a grim twist of fate, 2024 may be remembered as the year democracy met its end, not at the hands of a coup or invasion, but under the leadership of a president elected through democratic means. The death of democracy began with the rise of a populist authoritarian, who maintained the facade of democracy only as a means to sustain his destructive populist rule.
The demise of democracy in 2024 is attributable to the failure to uphold two unwritten norms: mutual toleration and institutional forbearance, as posited by Harvard University professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt in their book "How Democracies Die" (2018). These norms have been eroded by the populist authoritarian president’s divisive tactics and partisan maneuvering.
Mutual toleration, the respect for political opponents, has been severely compromised by the president’s discriminatory rhetoric and intimidation tactics in the shadows of power. Institutional forbearance, the restraint from exploiting institutions for partisan gain, has been undermined by the president’s aggressive politicking, meddling in state apparatus and official institutions to serve his political interests.
The disregarding of these norms spells doom for democracy, reduced to a procedural charade for the banality of populist authoritarianism. Adding to this is the flouting of the law, beginning at the top and orchestrated across the state apparatus, from the general election of 2024 to local polls, with no serious consequences for those involved.
The World Bank (2006) identified legal compliance as a crucial, albeit intangible, asset for a nation’s well-being, comprising 44% of its wealth. Indonesia’s slide is due, in part, to the demise of democracy, caused by the disregard for rules and laws. Law becomes a political weapon against opponents, as put forth in Gideon Rachman’s "The Age of the Strongman" (2022), and echoed by Lavrenti Beria, Stalin’s secret police chief: "Show me the man, and I’ll find you the crime."
2024 sees democracy slain by the political weaponization of law, as highlighted by Levitsky and Ziblatt in "Tyranny of the Minority" (2023). Selective law enforcement, a trend observed by Thomas Power (2020), reaches levels reminiscent ofNew Order authoritarianism. Enforcement is selective, favoring allies and targeting foes in a ‘with us or against us’ approach epitomized by Peru’s Óscar Benavides’ phrase, "For my friends, everything. For my enemies, the law."
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does teach, as Timothy Snyder warns in "On Tyranny" (2017). The 1930s showed how democratically elected leaders could pave the way for fascism, nazism, or communism. Unimaginable for many Indonesians, democracy could succumb to a populist tyrant elected in the name of the people. Under the cloak of democracy, authoritarianism could resurface, driven by an unholy alliance between the populist dictator and political cronies indispensable to democracy’s death.
Levitsky and Ziblatt’s "Tyranny of the Minority" (2023) reveals how ambitiously career-driven politicians, seeking to advance or win higher office, become necessary collaborators in democracy’s demise. The public’s tolerance of authoritarianism, tied to support for the authoritarian regime,_SPacing and paragraph formatting are crucial for readability and SEO. Use of headings and subheadings improves structure and makes the article easier to navigate. Use of relevant links and citations can enhance credibility and provide additional reading. Key phrases should be used naturally throughout the article to improve search engine optimization.
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