The new face of tyranny

In the 21st century, the face of tyranny has changed.

It is no longer about dictators who rule through violence, terror and ideological domination, like Hitler, Stalin or Mao.

The new face of tyranny

These are authoritarian leaders who take advantage of democratic institutions to undermine and destroy them from within. They do not resort to violence and terror like the tyrants of the past, but instead manipulate information and institutions to stay in power.

These authoritarian leaders present themselves to society as popular and legitimate, but in reality they are undermining the rights and freedoms of their citizens. They operate under a facade of democracy, but their actions and policies erode the very foundations of that system. They use tactics such as the suppression of freedom of expression, control of the media, and manipulation of electoral processes to perpetuate themselves in power.

Examples of new tyrants

Some examples of these dictators are Vladimir Putin in Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, Alberto Fujimori in Peru or Donald Trump in the United States. Each of them has used their own strategies to weaken the democratic counterweights and concentrate power in their own hands. They have weakened systems of checks and balances, undermined judicial independence, and silenced the opposition and critical media.

These rulers represent a threat to the stability and progress of the world. His authoritarian approach and disregard for the fundamental values of freedom, justice and human rights put global peace and prosperity at risk. Their actions have a direct impact on their own countries, eroding freedoms and generating social divisions, but they also affect the international community in general.

How to counter the threat

To counter this growing threat, democracies that uphold the universal values of freedom and justice must respond with firmness and coordination. The defense of these fundamental principles must be a shared priority among countries committed to the protection of human rights and the preservation of individual liberties.

It is necessary to strengthen the check and balance mechanisms in democracies, guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary, promoting transparency and access to information, and protecting freedom of expression and of the press. Furthermore, it is critical that authoritarian leaders face consequences for their actions, both domestically and internationally, through sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

In short, the authoritarian leaders of the 21st century represent an insidious form of tyranny. They use democracy to destroy it from within, undermining the rights and freedoms of its citizens. The response to this threat must be energetic and coordinated by democracies committed to the universal values of freedom and justice.