On social media, there is a discussion about whether Trump could carry out a coup, as he refuses to accept that he lost the election and claims that it was rigged and therefore invalid. In fact, it was he who won, if one stick to the valid votes. Of course there are worrying signs, but we are probably still far from a coup. However, there are some reasons why it is not always taken for granted that democracy is immune to undemocratic takeovers. We have examples of this in history and perhaps the most illustrative is how the Nazis in Germany managed to take power in the 1930s. But let’s look at known conditions for a coup.
A charismatic leader who wins sympathy due to his charisma.
Organization that obeys the leader and works systematically with opinion formation, where the main message is to save the country from imminent danger.
Wins a democratic election, which gives formal power.
Re-furnishes among government officials.
Has a faithful media megaphone, which drums in the message about the threats to the country and that the leader has the solution to save the country.
The threat can be averted with tangible measures that the leader and his party stand for, unlike everyone else. He is the way of truth and life!
Captures some concrete events of great importance, which can be exploited and which threaten law and order in the country. The people must understand that there are serious subversive forces in the country and one must stop Ole at the gate!
The threats justify changing laws or creating new ones, which increase the government’s power and ability to handle the situation. Only he and his party can do this. Reforms of the laws take place gradually and in a way that does not immediately reveal that most of the power is concentrated in the government and gradually gives it unrestricted powers.
The concentration of power is facilitated by whether the opposing forces in parliament and society are divided and disagree with each other and thus paralyzed.
With changes in essential laws, it also follows that the state leadership gains direct power over law enforcement and the military.
The decisive turning point occurs when a democratic election, which goes against the leader and his party, is not accepted by the leader and the party. They claim that the election result came about in an illegitimate way and therefore does not reflect the will of the people. The leader and the party, on the other hand, have the real support of the people.
By gradually removing all formal obstacles in the state apparatus, the rule of law, law enforcement and the military, thereby paving the way for an undemocratic takeover of power, the coup is possible. Those who want to defend democracy have lost much of their ability to prevent the coup. What happens next depends on the dictator’s ability to consolidate his position of power. It also depends on how strong democratic forces the people have and how much they are willing to sacrifice for democracy. If the country is very divided into different political factions and constellations, it gives the dictator a trump card. The reactions of the outside world also play a role. Even though Trump’s actions are moving in this direction, there are still many democratic institutions in the United States that will not accept a coup, such as state judges and courts that have not been duped by Trump’s unfounded accusations of electoral fraud, the cyber security agency declaring the election the safest. in US history, Congress and more.
Kritikern Alf 