The incremental nature of democratic erosion makes it difficult to identify. Oppositions run the risk of sounding hysterical if they call a government “autocratic” for taking small steps to erode a country’s democracy. If the public does not side with the opposition against an autocrat, then autocratic governments can continue eroding democracy unimpeded.

Wesleyan University

Autocrats can engage in stealth tactics that subtly change the democratic culture of a country but—because of their subtle nature—are difficult to point out as autocratic and effectively resist. Furthermore, because of the gradual nature of democratic erosion, the public may become used to a more autocratic political culture and may not realize how much democracy has weakened until it is too late.

Subtle Changes to a Country’s Democracy and Democratic Norms

Haggard, S. & Kaufman, R. R. (2021). Backsliding: Democratic Regress in the Contemporary World. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Haggard & Kaufman (2021)

Autocrats can undermine democracy by violating democratic norms. For example, they might attack the press so that the public becomes less trustful of a media that is trying to hold the government accountable. Autocrats might also sow doubt in electoral security so that the opposition does not think that their votes matter. Autocrats can also engage in polarizing rhetoric to further divide a country and their opposition. None of these actions are illegal, but they shift a country’s political culture in favor of autocrats and decrease the chances of effective resistance.

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