Autocratic Legalism Kim Lane Scheppele Upd Jun 2026

For a shorter, more accessible overview, see:

Recognizing that legalistic changes (like packed courts) are signs of autocratic, not democratic, intent. autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd

Historically, authoritarianism arrived violently via tanks, martial law, and overthrown governments. As documented in Scheppele's foundational 2018 paper published in the University of Chicago Law Review , modern democratic backsliding operates through a legalistic playbook. For a shorter, more accessible overview, see: Recognizing