Summary

Authoritarian movements operate like Trojan horses, gaining power through legitimate means and then dismantling democratic systems from within. They employ tactics such as politicizing institutions, spreading disinformation, consolidating executive power, quashing dissent, scapegoating vulnerable groups, corrupting elections, and inciting violence, a strategy observed since antiquity. The takeaway is that during times of change and uncertainty, people may be tempted to grant more power to leaders, making vigilance against this authoritarian playbook essential.