Autocratic Legalism Kim Lane Scheppele Upd

Redrawing electoral boundaries to favor the incumbent. Rule of Law vs. Rule by Law

Kim Lane Scheppele’s theory of Autocratic Legalism fundamentally changed how political scientists and legal scholars view democratic backsliding. It shifted the focus from the "strongman" personality cult to the bureaucratic and legal mechanics of power. autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele

In an autocratic legalist state, the law becomes instrumental. The law is merely a tool for the ruler to achieve a specific end. If a law stands in the way, the constitution is amended. Scheppele notes that in Orbán’s Hungary, the constitution has been amended or replaced so frequently that it no longer provides a stable framework for society; it is merely a reflection of the current ruler’s will. Redrawing electoral boundaries to favor the incumbent

The concept of , popularized by sociologist and legal scholar Kim Lane Scheppele , describes a modern method of democratic backsliding where leaders use their electoral mandates to dismantle constitutional systems through the law itself. Unlike 20th-century autocrats who relied on tanks and coups, today’s "legalistic autocrats" use parliamentary majorities and judicial reforms to hollow out liberal democracy from within. The Core Definition It shifted the focus from the "strongman" personality