An introductory lesson in authoritarian rule for Iowans

“For many, especially women, it’s like living without a voice or future.” Soniya Azhman, a poet and journalist explains.

“It is terrible to live in a country where you can’t express your ideas and opinions freely because you will be arrested.” said Jenny, who is fearful of using her whole name.

Fear and anxiety are normal emotions given the past year of threats and vitriol, and these two women are not the only ones experiencing fear postelection. But they have actually lived under authoritarian rule. They have an intimate understanding of how this power translates to hardship. It is a lesson that all Iowans need to learn from.

“Here we are [only] imagining since Trump said day one, he would be a dictator. But in Brazil, it's not something to imagine — they have actually experienced it.” Dr. Gladys Mitchell-Walthour is Dan T. Blue Endowed Chair and Professor of Political Science. She has extensive experience in a country that has been under authoritarian and dictator rule for decades.

When it comes to authoritarian governments, Iowans who watch the news could probably reference North Korea or Russia as authoritarian governments. But there are many examples we can learn from. Cases that run the gamut of models from democratic backsliding to totalitarianism. And the extent is difficult to grasp until it is reality.

“No one believes it can happen until you go through it. No one took Hitler seriously at first and then people were being taken to concentration camps. I saw how Chavez targeted the newspapers and journalists,” Jenny tells me, and explained how it shut down checks on power. “Today no one takes the risk to speak bad about the government.”

Authoritarian governments have a disparate impact on women’s lives, especially when coupled with extreme religious beliefs. “Restrictions on education, employment, and personal expression hinder women’s potential and independence. Daily life is filled with fear of punishment or retribution for any perceived dissent,” Azhman commented. She is concerned about the statements of the newly elected President on voting and punishing journalists and political opponents. “They undermine the democratic process by making people fearful of participating. For those who have seen the consequences of such rhetoric firsthand, it is a reminder of how quickly freedoms can disappear.”

Even experts warn we should take these statements on their face value. “I don't think it's empty talk. And they have had more time to prepare for this administration than they did the first time around. There has been a lot more investment in both ideas and people who could be in positions to carry them out.” Kieran Williams, Associate Professor of Political Science at Drake University has four decades of experience with authoritarian governments in Central and Eastern European countries and the former Soviet Union.

And some evidence exists of attempts to increase executive power. Especially in the courts, although there have been both losses and wins. “On the one hand, there are some very big structural cases. The immunity decision, the Colorado ballot case, the abortion case — big wins on the policy side for Trump,” Williams explains. “But on the other end, the courts really pushed back in 2020 and 2022 on things like the election fraud claims and allegations that the electoral system had been rigged or votes had been stolen or illegals were voting in large numbers. So I found that very reassuring that in least in those procedural terms. That overall, they want to protect the electoral process and uphold its integrity.”

The promise of economic turnaround under authoritarian regimes is great, but what they end up implementing is often harmful. “The country’s economy has been destroyed, which means people are just trying to survive every day, literally worrying about what they will eat,” Jenny speaks about the unmet economic promises of her home country.

And Williams demonstrates that this is par for the course under authoritarian regimes. “Authoritarians mostly have very bad economic track records. They don't tend to govern well when it comes to the economy. They might get some quick fixes and results but over time, they underperform democracies significantly. The idea that an authoritarian can fix economic problems and deliver growth and prosperity has virtually never been the case.”

Williams explains that our economy is not currently bad enough now to be a risk factor for an authoritarian grab of power. “Thinking a little bit farther down the road past the next four years, [climate change] could start to manifest itself in all kinds of ways that could put a lot of strain on the economy. And then people will really start to feel the effects. That's why I'm a little bit more worried not so much about Trump, but what might come after.”

Mitchell-Walthour points out that the changes made under authoritarian regimes can have long-term impacts on democracy, and the potential for additional backsliding. “There are Bolsonaro supporters that hold other elected positions. During the Bolsonaro era, he cut research funding and education was not a priority. Environmental protections were also threatened. Similarly, a Trump presidency means there will be a threat to education and the environment which will impact all Americans including Iowans.”

“If you are concerned about the expansion of presidential power, there are a lot of South American countries that have been through that in some way. I would look at El Salvador and what their president has been doing since 2019.” Williams tell his students “Pay attention to what's going on in those places because they represent something of a new, more polished model of authoritarianism, one that knows how to use social media. They know how to appeal to younger people and those who are alienated from the major parties or from the mainstream. I would say that may not necessarily be the type of presidency that Trump represents, but it could be a future post-Trump kind of authoritarian.”

For those who want to prepare for what to expect under an increasing authoritarian rule, the blueprint is out there. “Iowans should know that Project 2025 was public information and that the proposals should be taken seriously. This means that all aspects of life will be impacted and that those already suffering from high food prices should expect a deterioration of their economic livelihoods.” Mitchell-Walthour stresses that we should be concerned about the impact of policies that “will have less focus on providing quality public education, less support for public aid for America's most vulnerable citizens, and less social protections for citizens.”

Williams has a message of hope. “Hang in there and continue to represent an alternative. As we've seen again with elections in India this year, it is possible for the opposition to make something of a comeback. There are always low points, sometimes things swing very much one way in favor of one party, but they can eventually work their way back.” His advice,” Don't just be online. You need to have more face to face activities and experiences, even non-political ones. It's just very important to maintain some kind of associational life. That is, it requires you to be directly engaging with other people.”

Azhman uses her lived experience and role as an activist to encourage others to take action. “Supporting civic education, especially for young people, ensures future generations understand the value of democracy and know how to defend it.”

Ignorance is strength for those who seek oppressive power. We have opportunities to illuminate injustice and strengthen our democracy. Don’t waste them.

Chris Espersen is a Gazette editorial fellow. chris.espersen@thegazette.com