Lincoln Square

Lincoln Square

Share this post

Lincoln Square
Lincoln Square
Why Authoritarians Manufacture Crisis
Articles

Why Authoritarians Manufacture Crisis

Democracies don’t die because people stop caring. They die because people get scared — and they let the wrong person promise them safety.

Searching for Hope's avatar
Searching for Hope
Jun 30, 2025
∙ Paid
23

Share this post

Lincoln Square
Lincoln Square
Why Authoritarians Manufacture Crisis
8
Share

By Trygve Olson

This is the fourth in an eight-part series on the lessons I’ve learned confronting autocrats over the past twenty-five years. From post-Soviet capitals to American battlegrounds, I’ve seen how authoritarianism grows — and how democracy survives.

Autocrats need fear like a fire needs oxygen.

I’ve worked in countries where regimes manufacture…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Lincoln Square to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
A guest post by
Searching for Hope
Strategist. Pro-democracy fighter. Father. Wisconsinite. Green Bay Packers owner. Founding Lincoln Project advisor. Girl Dad, who writes about democracy, life lessons, and strategy, because we all need hope.
Subscribe to Searching
© 2025 Resolute Square PBC d/b/a Lincoln Square
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share