Category Archives: Authoritarianism

Coup d’état and the Failures of the U.S. Justice System

Posted on February 23, 2025 by briansandberg

Brazil and the United States have both experienced recent coups d’état by their presidents, Jair Bolsonaro and Donald J. Trump. The justice system of Brazil has successfully confronted Bolsonaro by charging him with coup d’état, while the U.S. justice system … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Civil Conflict, Civil Rights Issues, Crowd Studies, Democracy, History of Violence, Legal history, Militias and Paramilitaries, Political Activism and Protest Culture, Political History of the United States, State Development Theory, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe in Trumplandia

Posted on February 22, 2025 by briansandberg

Europeans are in shock after the recent Munich Security Conference, an annual meeting of European diplomats and international security officials in Germany. Academic colleagues and friends across Europe have been contacting me to ask what exactly the Trump administration is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Control, Authoritarianism, Contemporary France, Democracy, European History, European Studies, European Union, History in the Media, History of the Western World, Italian History, Political Culture, Political History of the United States, Political Parties and Organizations, Security Studies, State Development Theory, Strategy and International Politics, United States Foreign Policy, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump Sells out Ukraine and Destroys US Alliances

Posted on February 21, 2025 by briansandberg

President Trump shocked the world this week by falsely blaming Ukraine for starting the current Russian-Ukrainian War. The New York Times reports: “In comments that stunned America’s allies in Europe and angered Ukraine’s government, President Trump on Tuesday appeared to … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Empires and Imperialism, European History, European Studies, European Union, Human Rights, Peacemaking Processes, Political History of the United States, State Development Theory, Strategy and International Politics, United States Foreign Policy, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DOGE itself is Unconstitutional

Posted on February 21, 2025 by briansandberg

A former Associate White House Counsel and legal scholar asserts that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not a legitimate department at all, and as such is completely unconstitutional. Alan Charles Raul, former Associate White House Counsel and … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Democracy, History in the Media, Information Management, Political Culture, Political History of the United States, Political Theory, Public History, State Development Theory, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Governor Pritzker on Defending the Constitution

Posted on February 21, 2025 by briansandberg

Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered a powerful Illinois State of the State Speech this week, arguing that Illinois representatives and citizens must act to defend the U.S. Constitution and oppose tyranny in the United States. After discussing Illinois policy issues and … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Democracy, European History, Genocides, Globalization, History in the Media, History of the Western World, History of Violence, Legal history, Political Culture, Political History of the United States, Strategy and International Politics, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Challenging Institutional Neutrality

Posted on February 12, 2025 by briansandberg

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is challenging the concept of “institutional neutrality” in higher education institutions. The AAUP makes a forceful argument against so-called “institutional neutrality” on its website: “The AAUP urges universities not to hide behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Authoritarianism, Democracy, Higher Education, Humanities Education, Political Culture, Political Theory, State Development Theory, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On Hitler’s Dismantling of Democracy in 53 Days

Posted on February 12, 2025 by briansandberg

Ninety years ago a democratically elected leader dismantled a constitutional republic in record time. This is a good reminder of how constitutional mechanisms can be used to undermine constitutional systems. On 30 January 1933, “Adolf Hitler was appointed the 15th … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Democracy, History in the Media, History of Violence, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Information Management, Political Culture, Political Theory, Republicanism, State Development Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment