Autocratic Legalism Kim Lane Scheppele Upd _hot_ -

In this address, titled "Democracy in Danger: The Global Challenge of Autocratic Legalism," Scheppele took the audience through the "autocratic legalistic playbook" and argued that we need a new approach to thinking about the rule of law, one that prioritizes the restoration of democracy rather than blind adherence to legality.

The experience of watching fragile democracies take root—only to watch them rot from the inside two decades later—shaped her intellectual trajectory. Since 2010, she has been documenting the rise of a new breed of leader: the "legalistic autocrat." Her upcoming book, Destroying (and Restoring) Democracy by Law , is forthcoming from Harvard University Press, and in recognition of her influence, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2024 for her work on democratic backsliding. autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd

: Passing specific legislative reforms to grant the executive sweeping, unchecked authority. In this address, titled "Democracy in Danger: The

As of early 2026, the framework remains strikingly relevant. A notable Verfassungsblog piece from January 2026 examines Hungary granting political asylum to Zbigniew Ziobro, Poland's former Justice Minister, who faces criminal investigations in his home country. This move, scholars argue, represents an escalation of autocratic legalism: using asylum law to shield allied autocrats from justice, exploiting mutual trust principles within the EU for political protection. : Passing specific legislative reforms to grant the