Autocracies For the Working-Class

Author: Zoe Chin

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 64

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election came as a shock to some but on par with world trends of backsliding democracy and the spread of competitive authoritarianism. When considering authoritarianism on a micro level–the way authoritarian tendencies manifest in everyday life–the paradoxical relationship between authoritarian rule and lower-class support becomes more prominent. The interdependent relationship between the two suggests a dangerous future for working-class Americans, where economic and nationalist policies come at the cost of a dismantled democracy. In 1970s Mexico, the PRI secured working-class loyalty by promising living improvements and promoting mobilization through state-sponsored organizations, suppressing any real political empowerment. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Trump’s campaign utilized similar tactics as observed in 1970s Mexico. This research explores the methodology behind how autocratic regimes market themselves to the working class and contribute to the growing network of studies focusing on the democratic backsliding pandemic.