Globally, authoritarianism has been on the rise, and political freedoms have been steadily declining. This is a concern for us all – as authoritarian regimes rely on and fuel violence. These political actors deepen divisions, label vulnerable groups as enemies, and magnify people’s grievances – all to distract from unpopular or ineffective policies, including those that consolidate power in a single individual or political party.
Underlying this is a politics of us versus them: Narratives that construct a guilty and threatening “them” that endangers “our physical security,” “our way of life,” and “our women and children;” and a virtuous “us” in need of protection. This rhetoric dehumanizes marginalized groups, criminalizes opponents, and justifies political and identity-based violence that advances authoritarian goals.