Defenders of Democracy

Do not capitulate to the authoritarian in advance.

I have heard this advice from pro-democracy experts numerous times over the past few months. It’s critical advice when faced with an incoming President who promises to be a vindictive dictator from Day One.

In the United States, all of us hold the freedom of speech dear, especially the freedom to criticize our government officials, and this is one area, among many, where we should not capitulate. We have to remain loud, clear, and forceful in exercising our free speech to push back against anti-democratic proposals and policies. The more of us who do this, the more courage we give each other, and the more likely we are to modify the plans of the authoritarian and his supporters.

I have been following a number of pro-democracy writers, many of them since Donald Trump’s first term, who have provided historical and legal context on the anti-democratic forces that have arisen several times over the course of U.S. history. Some also discuss authoritarian and fascist regimes around the world and offer advice on how to overcome them.

These writers have kept me informed (a major factor in mobilizing against anti-democratic proposals), calm (at least as calm as I can be in the face of this threat to our freedoms), and hopeful. It’s going to take work to rebuild and strengthen our democracy after decades of erosion that has led to the rise of the wealthy and power-hungry authoritarians, but we’re not helpless. We know what to expect this time and have history and the following writers to guide us back to a healthy democracy that supports all of us.

Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World by Srdja Popovic – I’m starting my list with a book that I originally found at the public library. The author “was a leader of the student movement Otpor!, which helped topple Serbian president Slobodan Milošević.” (Quote from book cover.) I bought a copy so I could refer to it as needed.

Heather Cox Richardson – Letters from an American – Heather is a historian and professor at Boston College who started writing these daily (!) letters in September 2019 to follow the impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump. She puts political events of today into historical context, drawing on her extensive knowledge of Civil War-era history. If you only have time to follow one writer on this list, Heather is the one I suggest.

Ruth Ben Ghiat – Lucid newsletter – Ruth is another historian who is a scholar on authoritarians and fascism. Through her newsletter, she provides historical context and advice on dealing with authoritarian leaders.

Cory Doctorow – Pluralistic website – Cory is a science fiction author and longtime blogger who sits at the intersection of technology and the legal issues surrounding it. He covers privacy, intellectual property, and workers’ rights. He writes forcefully about these topics on his blog, expressing the anger many of us feel at being used by the wealthy and powerful.

Teri Kanefield – Teri’s website – Teri is a former appellate defender who writes about the law, including history related to the law. She used her blog to explain the process behind the two felony indictments of Donald Trump for the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and his refusal to turn over classified documents. She is currently delving into a series that covers the philosophy and foundations of democracy.

Robert Reich – Robert is on several platforms, including Substack and YouTube – Here is a link to his website. He is a professor, lawyer, and political commentator who has served in several presidential administrations, including as Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. I’ve been following Robert’s social media accounts for many years. He has focused heavily on the wealth inequality that has gotten more extreme in the U.S. over the past few decades, leading to the rise of anti-democratic leaders.

George Lakoff & Gil Duran – FrameLab newsletter – George Lakoff is a cognitive scientist and linguist who believes that the way politicians frame their language in terms of two primary family structures – the strict father or the nurturant parent – speaks to how people believe their government should operate. Those who prefer the strict father model prefer politicians who believe government should act like a strict father, with a man at the head of government who doles out punishments to keep citizens in line. The strict father promises certainty in an uncertain world (even if he can’t deliver on this promise). Those who prefer a nurturant parent model believe the government can be led by someone of any gender and is there to support everyone. Gil Duran is a journalist who partners with George on the FrameLab newsletter.

Andrea Pitzer – Check out Andrea’s website, Degenerate Art newsletter, and Next Comes What on her Degenerate Art YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts. Andrea is my newest follow. She is a journalist and historian (note how many historians are on this list!) who has written a book on the history of concentration camps called “One Long Night.” This puts her in a unique position to discuss Trump’s plans to detain immigrants once he gets in office, which she does in an episode of her Next Comes What podcast. (The episode is called “Somebody To Hate.”) Through her podcast, Andrea provides advice on surviving the next four years.

Who are you following that provides the information and hope we need to hold onto and strengthen U.S. democracy in the coming years? Please share in the comments.