Autocratic Legalism Kim Lane Scheppele Upd 100%

Title: The Architecture of Authorship: Kim Lane Scheppele’s Autocratic Legalism and the Façade of the Rule of Law

Kim Lane Scheppele's concept of autocratic legalism describes a modern phenomenon where democratically elected leaders use their electoral mandates to dismantle the constitutional systems they inherited through strictly legal means. Unlike traditional military coups, these leaders rely on "teams of lawyers" rather than tanks to consolidate power and remain in office indefinitely. Core Mechanisms of Autocratic Legalism autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd

Example E — United States (debated elements: constitutional hardball) : Pack judiciary seats or restrict judicial review

4. The Feedback Loop: The "Frankenstate"

Scheppele introduces the concept of the "Frankenstate" to explain how these regimes sustain themselves. autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd

A. Constitutional Hardball (The Macro Level)

Autocrats change the fundamental rules of the game to ensure they cannot lose.

: Pack judiciary seats or restrict judicial review to eliminate legal challenges to executive actions. Purge Civil Service