Autocratic Legalism Kim: Lane Scheppele Upd [best]

Autocratic legalism sits in the treacherous space between them. It is, Scheppele writes, the use of liberal legal forms to achieve autocratic ends . The autocrat does not burn the constitution; he reinterprets it. He does not abolish parliament; he shrinks its quorum. He does not jail all opposition journalists; he passes a defamation law with such breathtakingly vague standards that only the government’s critics are charged.

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Autocratic legalism , a concept refined by Kim Lane Scheppele, describes how democratically elected leaders use legal and constitutional tools to dismantle democratic checks and balances from within. Unlike classic coups, this process is incremental and uses the law itself to hollow out liberal democratic principles. 1. Core Definition autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd

What is autocratic legalism? — Core definition and central claims Autocratic legalism sits in the treacherous space between

Neutralizing independent media, the opposition, and civil society through regulatory changes or litigation (e.g., libel or slander suits). He does not abolish parliament; he shrinks its quorum

Scheppele warns: Autocratic legalism does not require a single dictator. It requires a across federal courts, state legislatures, and partisan attorneys general.