CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – The Trump administration’s “flood the zone” strategy can make it difficult to see when a turning point occurs in the United States’ slide into authoritarianism. Some might say this is an objective of the strategy, which is built on gradual encroachments on people’s rights and institutional checks. But the killing of two U.S. citizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis last month may just be that turning point.
A key distinguishing feature of authoritarian governments is their ability to use excessive force against opponents. Every government uses coercive tactics in policing, but there are clear thresholds. The British government can use force to clear some spaces of protesters. But various institutional checks and the strength of norms against authoritarianism make it unthinkable for the police to engage in the indiscriminate killing of protesters in the United Kingdom.
In contrast, there was no surprise whatsoever when then-Syrian President Bashar Assad responded murderously to protests during the Arab Spring. Most people understand that authoritarian governments can and will use such force against opposition, independent media and other pillars of civil society.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.