Autocratic Legalism Kim Lane Scheppele Upd 'link'

The keyword’s durability lies in its uncomfortable truth: Law is not automatically the friend of liberty. Law can be a weapon. Procedures can be parasites on principles. And the most dangerous enemies of democracy are not those who burn the courthouse, but those who quietly rewrite the rules of admission.

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Autocratic legalists use "reform" as a pretext to weaken independent agencies. This includes electoral commissions, central banks, and media regulators. These institutions are not abolished; they are simply staffed with "yes-men" who ensure that the government's actions are never questioned. 3. Subjugating the Media The keyword’s durability lies in its uncomfortable truth: