Mexico is undergoing a troubling shift away from democratic norms, a trend mirrored in the actions and rhetoric of populist leaders worldwide.
A New Breed of Autocrat
Table of Contents
The rise of leaders who prioritize power over principle is eroding democratic institutions and fostering a climate of distrust and aggression.
- Populist leaders often employ lies and aggression to maintain control.
- Democracies have ousted some of these figures, but others have consolidated power.
- The manipulation of public opinion and disregard for institutions pose a significant threat to democratic values.
The words of those in power require careful scrutiny, deciphering their true intentions behind public statements. This is particularly crucial with populist rulers, who are often characterized by excess, a detachment from reality, and a contempt for truth—leading them to frequently resort to dishonesty. This isn’t simply political maneuvering; it represents a new phenomenon, a direct challenge to the civility expected within a democracy.
Echoes of Disregard
Figures like Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Jair Bolsonaro, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador exemplify this trend. While Brazil and the United Kingdom have voted these leaders out of office, the situation is more complex elsewhere. In Mexico, despite concerns about overreach, the methods and policies of the current administration were recently ratified with a majority sufficient to potentially undermine the independence of the Legislative and Judicial branches. Some specialists argue this marks a transition from an imperfect, hybrid democracy toward autocracy.
The pattern of behavior is strikingly similar. Donald Trump, for example, offers seemingly positive remarks about Mexico’s current President Claudia Sheinbaum, but immediately undermines them with accusations that she is not truly in control, but rather that criminal groups are. This echoes López Obrador’s tactic of prefacing criticism with “with all due respect” before launching into pointed attacks.
Power and its Perversions
Aggression, in this context, isn’t a flaw—it’s a tool. It’s a self-granted permission to operate above the law, fueled by the belief that the cause justifies any means. This mindset breeds vileness and cruelty, prioritizing resentment, hatred, and intolerance towards dissenting voices. The handling of the pandemic and responses to insecurity, without empathy, have demonstrably cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Freedom of expression is actively suppressed, seen as a threat to authority and a potential source of moral defeat. Under both Trump and López Obrador, political civility was effectively banished from public discourse. The relentless media presence of these leaders leaves little room for nuance or moderation. Journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva, despite being targeted in an attack where he narrowly escaped with his life, was subjected to further cruelty. This pattern extended to citizen movements, women’s rights groups, parents of children with cancer, and families searching for missing loved ones.
A Vindication of Form?
Despite these actions, López Obrador secured his position in the 2024 election, and Trump is poised to potentially do the same in 2025. This suggests a dangerous validation of these tactics, where the sole objective is self-preservation and the perpetuation of power. Threats are employed, both carried out and implied, to intimidate opposition.
This dynamic is visible in Venezuela, where interests extend beyond oil and drug trafficking, and the restoration of democracy remains a distant prospect. María Corina Machado’s movement faces significant obstacles. Similarly, for Trump, Cuba is a key target, with Chavismo seen as a useful tool to destabilize the Castro regime.
The Currency of Lies
“Let them learn,” López Obrador reportedly said with thinly veiled malice. Lies have become entrenched in positions of power, and the ease with which democracy can degrade without substantial resistance is alarming. While established democracies offer the possibility of electoral correction, the wait for such a correction can be lengthy.
In the interim, Trump has demonstrated a willingness to wield power with what some describe as fascist tendencies, as evidenced by the incident involving an immigration agent shooting a defenseless woman—a crime the Trump administration attempted to justify with demonstrably false claims, despite clear visual evidence. Expansionist ambitions, such as those concerning Denmark and Greenland, further illustrate this aggressive posture. Mexico, too, cannot ignore the potential threats emanating from the North American government.
Lost Battles and Eroded Respect
Many battles have already been lost, most notably the lack of respect for the rights of others and for the very essence of what Mexico represents. The prevailing narrative in some parts of the United States portrays Mexico in a negative light, fueled by violence that reinforces the perception that the country is controlled by drug traffickers and that its president lacks genuine authority. This perception is a dangerous offense, paving the way for increased aggression and demands—such as the surrender of politicians and soldiers allegedly involved in drug trafficking—that are simply unsustainable.
