The Time Is Now: Defending Democracy Cannot Wait
Is anybody out there? Are we fighting alone? When the world finally comes together and reveals the vast extent of this corrupt network, we will see that even the strongest autocracy will fall.
Photo by Brandon Mowinkel on Unsplash
“This is our time,” proclaimed Venezuelan opposition leader and political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez before a cheering international audience when he called for an international network of democracy defenders. Democracies and their defenders are more divided than ever, and the disconnect evident in the American election—where candidates appeared out of touch with voters as well as critical global issues—further highlights the problems facing modern democratic systems. For the past few election cycles, more and more Americans have been confused and feeling unrepresented by the traditional two-party system. A two-party system can only work when both parties are healthy and not influenced by aggressive autocratic tendencies. The fact that more Americans are feeling politically homeless and disengaged is evidence of the desperate need for reform. Furthermore, there has been a sharp increase in Russian, Iranian, and Chinese involvement in our elections: sowing specific polarizing narratives, playing group dynamics against each other, and creating fear and threats of violence. From where I live in Washington, DC, both the Capitol and White House have become complete fortresses, and entire blocks are now boarded up due to how rampant these threats are and how quickly they are growing.
As a democracy scholar and activist researching political prisoners, kleptocracy, and autocratic networks, I emailed every single campaign including all the third-party candidates to see if any of them had an opinion on the Alliance of Autocracy—the expansive and rapidly expanding network of all autocratic countries. I received only a few responses: the Solidarity Party wanted to learn more, and Nikki Haley and one of Kamala’s staffers appeared to recognize the threat. Neither the official Republican Party nor the official Democratic Party seemed aware of this threat, which is one of the biggest issues of our time. During all of the presidential debates, the conversations were centered around domestic issues such as the economy, immigration, or healthcare, leaving aside how these issues are all impacted by greater geopolitical dynamics and how nothing inside the United States will change unless the network of autocracy is addressed. It is also evident that both candidates were focused on culture war issues, which is a distraction from the greater international arena—and fueled by Russia. I liken this to being in 19th-century Europe and not discussing the Holy Alliance. The Alliance of Autocracy is very expansive: it is most clearly visualized in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; Russia employs North Korean troops, Chinese and Iranian weapons, as well as Venezuelan psychological operations against Ukraine. In its “election,” Venezuela leveraged extensive psychological operations, posing as supporters of Maria Corina Machado, to suppress testimonies from Leopoldo Lopez and Juan Guaido. The leader of this was not Machado but a psychological torture expert in charge of breaking political prisoners. Machado herself condemned the actions. Venezuela has shared its psychological torture tactics with Iran, Russia, Cuba, and China, who in turn are aiding Venezuela. These two examples are powerful messages about how the network of autocracy is functioning not just on a physical front in Ukraine where thousands of Ukrainians are being killed in a genocidal invasion but also in a war for your hearts and minds, as exemplified in Venezuela.
“Over 70 percent of the world lives under autocratic regimes; within those regimes are one million political prisoners. Adopting a global outlook is one way to escape this cycle of instability.“
The United States is not immune. The tactics driving Americans to hate each other are suspiciously similar to tactics we have seen before, with clear evidence that Iran and Russia are amplifying extreme narratives on both sides of the political spectrum. These efforts aim to promote divisive and unpopular agendas that intimidate and alienate ordinary Americans, particularly young people. As a result, many of them are disengaging from politics, viewing it as “corrupt” and “dirty,” while the two-party system appears entirely dysfunctional. In reality, politics is no more nor less corrupt than any other sector. There are academics (especially historians), real estate agents, and businesspeople who receive money and support from autocratic countries. Politicians must report all their financial transactions, whereas the business sector is less regulated, leaving it more open to manipulation. The pressure of ideological purity is also causing the two-party system to collapse. Many people who agreed with Kamala Harris on opposing Trump were turned away by her support of abortion, which they viewed as a human rights violation. When individuals are this divided on issues, more people appear politically homeless.
There are, however, a few ways out of this. We need to start building coalitions with those who think differently and view politics as a civic duty. We need to get back to reading great books on civics and civic virtue, cultivating the latter in ourselves, and having more conversations, just as human beings. Likewise, we need a massive global effort to resist the influence of the network of autocracy. This should not be an ideological or one-party issue, but a concern for everyone.
We need conservatives and liberals to unite in collaboration with pro-democracy dissidents operating within autocratic regimes; they must work together to identify effective strategies to counter this network. It is essential to dismantle kleptocratic influence in business and academia while fostering stronger networks that reinforce the message: none of us stand alone. Encouraging artists, musicians, businesspeople, politicians, and citizens of all walks of life to engage in the civic sphere is vital for ending this toxic cycle. We also need more people to get involved in politics who understand how the network of autocracy is working and how we can fight back. We need individuals in every party and district to run on a platform of addressing the alliance of autocracy and a network that extends across multiple fields of interest, emphasizing collaboration. When these individuals are elected to office, they should be responsible for training and mentoring other future leaders, encouraging them to engage in these spaces and collaborate with pro-democracy activists, both from established democracies and those within autocratic regimes.
The only way for Americans to end this cycle of toxic polarization is to both reach out to their neighbors as well as to their pro-democracy colleagues around the world. Ideological issues should not be caught up in this. Charged topics such as education or social issues become so heated that people lose sight of the fundamentals: fair and free elections, freedom of conscious, freedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of the press—essential pillars for securing human rights and democracy. When people get caught up in debating whether educational choice is a human right, whether abortion is a human right or a violation of human rights, or whether a more socialistic economy is better, we lose sight of the fundamentals. We need to regain control of democracy, and we need people on both sides of those issues to come together as we get back to the basics. We need to return to the core principles of the Universal Declaration of Rights and the fundamental tenets of democracy—values we can all agree on, without exclusion based on ideology. Over 70 percent of the world lives under autocratic regimes; within those regimes are one million political prisoners. Adopting a global outlook is one way to escape this cycle of instability. Build coalitions, create new political movements, reach across the aisle, and reach across the world. The time is now to stand against the network of autocracy.
In the Opera Fidelio, Florestan, a political prisoner, is languishing in a dungeon seemingly forgotten and alone. His crime? Revealing the kleptocratic corruption of Pizarro, a corrupt Spanish governor. Florestan is imprisoned for his activism, and Pizarro tries to erase the memory of him by saying he is “dead.” Florestan’s wife, Leonore, does not believe this and sneaks into the prison, disguised as a guard, to rescue him. Like Florestan, defenders of democracy around the world remain isolated, many languishing in the dungeons of autocracy, while the world—including the 2024 presidential candidates—turns a blind eye. Is anybody out there? Are we fighting alone? When the world finally comes together and reveals the vast extent of this corrupt network, we will see that even the strongest autocracy will fall.
