Time for the Facism Checklist

Stage 1 — Early Democratic Erosion

• Erosion of trust in democratic institutions
• Leaders framing political opponents as existential threats
• Increasing use of conspiracy narratives to explain political setbacks
• Attacks on independent media as “biased,” “fake,” or “enemies”
• Growing tolerance for political violence in rhetoric
• Declining transparency in government decision-making
• Expansion of executive power through “emergency” language
• Attempts to delegitimize courts or regulatory bodies
• Normalization of corruption or conflicts of interest
• Shrinking space for civil society and watchdog groups

Stage 2 — Institutional Capture

• Stacking courts with loyalists
• Politicizing law enforcement and intelligence agencies
• Rewriting rules for elections, voting, or districting to entrench power
• Weakening or replacing independent oversight bodies
• Using state resources to reward allies and punish critics
• Restricting access to public information
• Expanding surveillance powers without proportional oversight
• Pressuring private companies to align with government narratives
• Increasing use of state media or government-aligned outlets
• Criminalizing leaks, whistleblowing, or investigative journalism

Stage 3 — Soft Authoritarianism

• Harassment or legal prosecution of opposition leaders
• Disqualification of candidates on technical or vague grounds
• Restricting protests or requiring burdensome permits
• Expanding definitions of “extremism,” “sedition,” or “national security threats”
• Government-aligned oligarchs acquiring independent media
• Internet throttling, censorship, or algorithmic manipulation
• Loyalty tests for civil servants, educators, or military personnel
• Use of tax audits or regulatory pressure against critics
• State-sponsored disinformation campaigns targeting dissent
• Normalization of paramilitary or vigilante groups aligned with the ruling party

Stage 4 — Hard Authoritarianism

• Elections become symbolic or noncompetitive
• Opposition parties banned or severely restricted
• Judiciary fully subordinated to executive power
• Widespread political imprisonment
• Nationalization or forced takeover of independent media
• Severe restrictions on speech, assembly, and association
• Militarization of domestic policing
• Use of emergency powers without clear end dates
• Constitutional changes enabling indefinite rule
• State ideology enforced through education, culture, and law

Stage 5 — Total Consolidation

• Cult of personality around the leader
• Mandatory ideological education or loyalty rituals
• Criminalization of dissenting identity groups
• State control of the economy to reward loyalty
• Surveillance integrated into daily life (digital or physical)
• Elimination of independent civil society
• State rewriting of history to justify permanent rule
• Use of fear, coercion, or violence as routine governance tools