Crisp: How do you know when a nation becomes an autocracy?

"In fact, since 1997 the Center for Systemic Peace has maintained a 21-point scale that takes into account various political variables elections, the role of the military, economic inequality, political violence and so on in order to describe where countries stand on the scale between democracy and autocracy. On the autocracy end, at -10, are the countries that you would expect: North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, obvious autocracies all. At +10 are the apparent democracies: Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada and, until recently, the United States."

"In the middle, between -5 and +5, are what political scientists call partial democracies, hybrid regimes or anocracies. They embody elements of both autocracy and democracy, and the point where one clearly shades into the other is elusive. In her ominously entitled book, How Civil Wars Start, published in 2023, political scientist Barbara F. Walter describes the erosion of America's standing on this 21-point scale during President Donald Trump's first term, which began with the U.S. at +10."

"Shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2017, America's score fell to a +8 based on Trump's efforts to purge government figures he deemed disloyal and to punish opponents. He refused to disclose his tax returns, and he pardoned friends who were guilty of crimes. By 2019 Trump was refusing to cooperate with congress, especially in connection with his impeachment. He sued to block subpoenas and refused to turn over information needed for congressional oversight. The polity scale score dropped to +7."

A 21-point polity scale evaluates countries between democracy (+10) and autocracy (-10) using variables such as elections, the role of the military, economic inequality, and political violence. Clear examples at -10 include North Korea and Saudi Arabia; +10 includes Switzerland, New Zealand, and Canada. Regimes between -5 and +5 are hybrid anocracies that mix autocratic and democratic features. The United States began at +10 but fell to +8 after early efforts to purge perceived disloyal officials, conceal tax returns, and issue pardons. Continued refusals to cooperate with Congress, lawsuits to block subpoenas, and the pandemic and protests encouraged executive power consolidation; the polity score dropped to +7, and January 6 constituted an attempt to overturn an election.

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