That is the true threat: disordered counterpublics are no longer fringe. They are reshaping institutions themselves. Figures like RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard act as bridges, pulling epistemic closure into the democratic system, corroding it from within.
This is terrible for democracy, but great for authoritarianism, where loyalty trumps reality. It's exactly what's happening in the US, Trump's coalition of disordered counterpublics capturing institutions and destroying their democratic functions from within.
And how easy it was to do with so little resistance is appalling and mind boggling for those of us experiencing it directly.
More like feelings like "fun", joy, revenge and fear trumps reality in authoritarian systems (or wannaby variables) rather than loyality. Disloyalty is actually one of the problems of authoritarian regimes often leading to their disfunktion and downfall, no?
That’s true, authoritarian movements thrive on emotion: fear, revenge, even a sense of “fun.” But structurally, once they capture institutions, loyalty becomes the organising principle. It’s the filter for truth, the basis for purges, and the condition for survival inside the system.
How do you think this will end? Will the institutions be strong enough to correct this, or will US slide into full authoritarianism?
It will take an uprising, prepared to use physical force to stop him. A Civil War to wrench authority away from him. Trump won't stop now. Opposition is uncoordinated and leaderless. Trump will use every power to keep it that way. (Putinisation of the institutions is already 80%++ complete.)
The problem is, if people quit from institutions because they balk at the demands made on them it just results in them being replaced by loyalists, but if they aren't loyalist some excuse is used to get rid of them.
I was recently reminded of Lysenko, & the disastrous results of relying on science that fits a narrative- rather than science in its proper process. www.storybehindthescience.org/lysenkoism