By maintaining a strict facade of legalism, autocratic legalists gain a crucial asset that traditional military juntas lacked: institutional legitimacy. Because their actions are cloaked in formal legal procedures, international monitoring bodies, domestic courts, and ordinary citizens often fail to recognize the impending dictatorship until the transition is virtually irreversible. The Core Mechanisms of Autocratic Legalism
For centuries, constitutionalism, liberalism, and democracy were viewed as codependent forces advancing in tandem. Dictatorships were historically defined by their flagrant lawlessness. However, Scheppele's research reveals a profound structural shift in the 21st century: modern autocrats do not break the law; they change it. autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd
In a controversial extension, Scheppele’s 2026 working paper (pre-circulated at Princeton’s “Democratic Resilience” workshop) applies the framework to the United States—not as a full autocracy, but as a case of . Examples: By maintaining a strict facade of legalism, autocratic