How Does Power Slip Away From an Autocratic Leader


While this period of history is unpleasant to live through in many ways, it is wonderful political theater. Trying to figure out what is going on gives us political junkies something to do.

I was jolted by the insight of a person who had both engaged in and studied political resistance against autocratic leadership. He has studied Mahatma Ganhdi and leaders and other events closer to this country. 

We need to insert a disclaimer here that political systems vary and democratic systems have solutions others do not for solving issues of power. That said, we all know majorities in democracies can impose autocratic solutions on minorities. This was addressed in by our founding fathers in the Constitution.

What was addressed by the link was this question: How can nonviolent protests be effective against an autocratic leader or the majority?

The answer is that nonviolent protests play with the minds of others in the system. That is other politicians, military and the general public. They plant the idea that voluntary cooperation is not required. It is voluntary cooperation that gives autocracy its power, not power per se. And, it is not that all voluntary cooperation need stop, just some around the margins is adequate to undermine the powers of the time.

The efforts at autocracy, or a symbol of it, was the President of the United States standing in front of a church holding up a Bible. To me, it symbolized a marriage between religious and political power. If this came to full flower it would be by the majority imposing its will on the minority. 

The link suggests this will be unsuccessful because already there are signs the voluntary cooperation needed to bring this marriage about is slipping away, at least at the margins. Other world leaders began ignoring the wishes of the President several months ago. Several governors did not put the hammer down on political protests which the President demanded. Some resisted takeover of local law enforcement by the U.S. Military. Even the Supreme Court came up one vote short of overruling governors who limit church worship due to the virus. 

Watching the rich and powerful be taken down is great political theater. 

    

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