15 Features of Authoritarianism

On January 24, 2017, Polish journalist and activist Martin Mycielsky published a piece on Twitter called “Year 1 Under Authoritarianism: What to Expect.” He did this warn Americans about what to expect during Trump’s first year in office, and to encourage us to fight back. (Interestingly, the document is still there, on Musk’s “X.”)

Later that year, On December 12th, author Kari Holloway wrote an introduction and update to the piece and published it, together with Mycielsky’s 15 points, on AlterNet.

These warnings were published during the first year of Trump’s first term. They are even more important now. Trump was bumbling incompetent then, and he is even more mentally-challenged now. The difference this time around is that he is now surrounded by determined, big-money, fascists who have a written plan (Project 2025) to destroy our nation. They are using Trump as an enabling “useful idiot” while they are busy behind the scenes looting and dismembering the Federal government.

1. They will claim a “mandate” from the people to change the system. Remember – getting elected does not give them permission to break the law and undermine democracy.
2. They will divide and rule. Don’t let them divide you. Remember you are one People, one Nation, with one common good.
3. They will try to control the mainstream media and limit press freedom. Fight for every media outlet and journalist that is banned, censored, sacked, or labeled “enemy of the state.”
4. They will create chaos and maintain a constant sense of conflict and danger. This will be their argument to enact new authoritarian laws to “protect” you. Don’t be deceived. See through the fake danger and expose it.
5. They will distort the truth, deny facts and blatantly lie. Always think critically, fact-check, and point out the truth. Fight ignorance with facts.
6. They will incite and then leak, fake superficial “scandals.” These are a smokescreen for the dangerous things they are actually doing. See through the superficial.
7. They will propose shocking laws to provoke outrage. Then they will seemingly back off giving you a false sense of victory. This is a distraction. Focus your fight on what really matters.
8. They will focus on taking rights away from women, foreigners, immigrants, and racial and sexual minorities. These groups will need to fight hard and must be supported.
9. They will try to control the judiciary. They need to remove the checks and balances in order to push through unconstitutional legislation. Preserve the independence of the courts at all costs.
10. They will try to limit freedom of assembly, calling it a necessity for your security. They will only allow events and rallies that support their ideology. Oppose any legislation that interferes with freedom of assembly for any reason.
11. They will distort the language, coin new terms and labels, and repeat shocking phrases. The words “thief,” “liar,” and “traitor,” will automatically mean the opposition. “Patriot” or “a true American” will mean their followers. Fight changes in language. Remind people of the true meaning of words.
12. They will take over your national symbols and associate them with their regime. Do not let them hijack the the flag, the anthem, or other symbols that belong to everyone equally. Show your national symbols with pride and don’t let them become associated with tyranny.
13. They will try to rewrite history to suit their needs and use the education system to support their agenda. They will raise a new generation of voters on their ideology and a distorted interpretation of history. Guard the education of your children. Teach them critical thinking, open-mindedness, and true history.
14. They will alienate foreign allies and partners, while ruining your economy. While “making your country great again,” they will ignore the rest of the world. Don’t let them build walls promising you security instead of building bridges giving you prosperity.
15. They will manipulate the electoral system. They will claim they only want to correct it’s flaws. Don’t believe them. They wouldn’t be messing with it at all if it didn’t benefit them to do so. Oppose any changes to electoral law proposed by an authoritarian regime. They are doing it to remain in power longer.

Author’s Note:
The list above is abridged. I strongly recommend you read the complete article at one of the links below. Also, remember, Trump’s first wife, Ivana, reported in 1990 that Trump kept a copy of Hitler’s speeches in a bedside cabinet. Tim Reid, “Trump: I have not read Hitler’s Mein Kampf,” Reuters, December 19, 2023.

Sources:
Kari Holloway and Martin Mycielsky, “Increasingly a necessity: A 15-point guide to surviving authoritarianism,” AlterNet, December 12, 2017.
Republished on BillMoyers.com, December 15, 2017.

Related links:
Brian Ferguson, “14 Signs of Fascism,” Insight, September 28, 2020.
Brian Ferguson, “10 Tactics of Fascism,” Insight, June 27, 2022.
Brian Ferguson, “8 Characteristics of American Fascism,” Insight, November 4, 2024.