China is frequently held up as the epitome of modern authoritarianism. And that’s fair. While North Korea, for example, is an authoritarian police state, Kim Jong-un doesn’t wield nearly the same magnitude of global power as Xi Jinping.
But these days, it seems that Canadian PM Justin Trudeau doesn’t want to be underestimated when it comes to his own authoritarian tendencies. Trudeau’s been quite the little wannabe dictator himself. As he sees it, the Freedom Convoy is a perfect excuse for him to seize authority in the name of protecting democracy.
John Hayward, who’s made a habit of crafting vital threads about various political issues, has written about Chinese authoritarianism before. But today, he’s taking a look at how that style of authoritarianism seems to be gaining quite a bit of popularity in governments outside of China:
Authoritarianism is the hottest political product in the world right now. Western elites believe their governments must become more dictatorial in order to compete with technocratic despotisms like China. Public submission is the most desired commodity.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Recall that Trudeau has expressed great admiration for China’s “basic dictatorship” in the past. He wasn’t bluffing.
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Perpetual states of emergency have replaced perpetual states of war as the preferred vehicle for increasing authoritarian power. In the old days, statists thought the hot ticket was using the language of military conflict to push social policy, i.e. "The War on Poverty."
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Until recently, we were always "at war" with various ills. We were told to view ourselves as conscripts into these social wars, and politicians as our generals. They were always vowing to fight-fight-fight against social ills and shadowy conspiracies.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
This impulse probably began as a desire to recreate the tremendous energy and unity of the World War 2 effort, but diverted into social causes and the expansion of the State. If we could win an all-out war against the Nazis, why not declare all-out war against social ills?
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Real, serious authoritarians choose their words very, very carefully.
But now it's clear the Permanent State of Emergency is more politically profitable than forever war. People do expect "war" to end in victory, after all, and they grow less enthusiastic if the war grinds on forever. A good emergency can be kept rolling indefinitely.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Emergencies also encourage a more submissive mindset, which is essential for political power to grow. Obedience is the necessary fuel for power – giving orders is comical unless people obey them. Submission nourishes obedience.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Our own government has taken great advantage of that just during the pandemic.
There has also been a cultural shift over the past few generations that makes the perpetual emergency mindset an easier sell than perpetual war. Recruiting victims is much easier than enlisting soldiers.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Bingo.
But one way or the other, most Western political elites are devoted to making their populations more obedient, and walling off greater stores of power so the public cannot tamper with it. A growing number of issues are "settled" and are no longer up for discussion.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
Sound familiar?
These elites see themselves as defenders of true freedom, not aspiring tyrants. They just believe a much larger portion of centralized power must be firewalled against public interference or disobedience – for their own good, of course, and just to cope with "emergencies."
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
The growing elite consensus is that democracy is too messy, unruly, and disobedient. People are prone to consuming misinformation and turning against their wise rulers. They can thwart the noble efforts of visionary politicians by voting them out of office. It's absurd!
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
The gentle meadow of freedom must be made smaller, and surrounded by higher fences that can only be built with authoritarian power. Within those fences, you'll be free enough. Only great leaders with humble people can master the challenges of the future.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
The pandemic greatly increased the free world's appetite for "controlled" authoritarianism – a nuclear political fuel that must be handled carefully, but which is vital for reaching the technocratic future. The people can no longer be trusted to define the limits of power. /end
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 15, 2022
A lot of progressives would finish reading Hayward’s thread and roll their eyes and sneer. The idea that leftism and progressivism can be authoritarian and anti-freedom!
But those whose eyes are wide open understand that Hayward is exactly right. Give the government an inch, and they’ll take a mile. And they’ll keep taking miles until they’ve taken everything.
