The Turnaround: How Democracies Fight Back
Authoritarianism can feel inevitable once it takes hold—like a tide you can’t fight. But history says otherwise.
Countries have fought back. They’ve overturned power grabs, rebuilt institutions, and reawakened civic trust. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t fast. But it was possible.
Today, we’re looking at places that clawed their way back from the brink—and what we can learn from their strategies.
Poland: Voting the Authoritarians Out
For years, Poland was a poster child for democratic backsliding. The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) packed courts, suppressed independent media, and used state resources to maintain its grip on power.
But in 2023, something changed.
A broad coalition came together, uniting liberals, centrists, and even some conservatives against authoritarianism.
Civic education campaigns helped voters understand what was at stake—not just who to vote for, but why democracy itself mattered.
Record turnout, especially among younger voters, tipped the election.
The PiS party lost power. The opposition is now working—slowly, carefully—to undo the damage and rebuild institutional trust.
Lesson: Unity of purpose can defeat even entrenched authoritarian governments—especially through elections.
South Korea: Legal Accountability After Scandal
South Korea’s turn came not from an election, but from a scandal.
In 2016, then-President Park Geun-hye was implicated in a massive corruption scheme. Rather than shrug it off, millions of South Koreans took to the streets in peaceful candlelight protests.
The pressure worked: Park was impeached, removed from office, and eventually imprisoned.
New elections ushered in reform-minded leadership.
The country strengthened anti-corruption laws and transparency mechanisms in response.
It wasn’t a perfect fix—but it was proof that a mobilized population, paired with legal institutions, could demand real consequences.
Lesson: Peaceful protest and legal mechanisms, when working together, can deliver accountability—even at the highest levels.
Slovakia: Fighting Back with Facts
In Slovakia, journalists were under siege—especially after the 2018 assassination of investigative reporter Ján Kuciak.
Rather than succumb to fear or censorship:
The media doubled down, continuing to expose corruption and criminal networks tied to politicians.
Public outrage turned into political action. Protest movements formed, elections were held, and new leadership emerged.
Transparency reforms followed, alongside greater protection for journalists.
Slovakia remains a work in progress—but it turned a moment of national trauma into democratic renewal.
Lesson: A free press, even under fire, can rally the public and shift the political tide.
The Common Thread: People Made It Happen
These turnarounds weren’t top-down miracles. They were bottom-up demands for change—driven by voters, journalists, students, civil servants, and protestors.
They happened because:
People stayed engaged, even when it felt hopeless.
They built coalitions wider than their own politics.
They refused to normalize authoritarian tactics.
That’s what makes the difference. Not just outrage—but organized, sustained civic resistance.
Could It Happen Here?
It already is.
The United States still has independent courts, free media, grassroots movements, and the power of the vote. We’re not past the point of no return—but we’re close enough to see it.
What these countries show us is that even battered democracies can fight back—if enough people recognize what’s happening and act while they still can.
Tomorrow: What You Can Do
Tomorrow, we close the series with something practical: a list of things you—yes, you—can do to help stop the spread of authoritarianism.
Voting is just the beginning. There’s more you can do—and more people ready to do it alongside you than you might think.
If you’ve been with this series all week, thank you. Don’t miss the finale.