I live in a country that is sliding into open authoritarianism, thriving on servitude, ignorance and acceptance by the masses, sterilization of public opinion through stabilitocracy, with a saviour-type autocrat figure, who is at the same time mobilizing for carte blanche support; systematic semi-democratic destruction of opposition parties and "divide ey impera" tactics, extreme levels of corruption, and even dabbling with mafia. The line between crime, politics and business has been blured. The political realm has been turned into a circus that is overlooked by the "father of the state" who benevolently gives people, well, bread and circuses, in exchange for unconditional support. The leader is particularly popular amongst the least educated and old people, who still hold pro-authoritarian views left over from communist times. The state, in essence, is crony capitalism mixed in with false patriotism and unconditional support to the big tent populist without an ideology. A chameleon who is exploiting the very basic fears and emotions of the populace, while at the same time, young people are hopeless and are leaving in droves. The key point of the regime is how former governments were failures, and this government is at least doing something – meaning, "just be happy with the fact pensions are running regularly, prole". And people are believing it, while at thr same time being fully aware of increasingly bad conditions of the country, in a sort of double-think I find hard to describe. Losses become victories, and all institutions are captured. Negative selection is rampant, all in order to strengthen key political players – kakistocracy in action.
It seems like a circle that is never going to end, as this chimera of a party keeps grabbing more and more in an endless circle of conquest for new ways to exploit.
I would like some books that could give me more insight into some of these topics that I've touched on, and perhaps give ideas on how to fight back and move on. They can be both popular, and scientific in nature. I just want to understand what kind of hell we are living in.
by radoxvic