Resisting Legal Autocracy in South

Entire societies find themselves under the sway of autocrats who often lack both competence and compassion. These leaders have initiated a process of legal autocratization, systematically undermining democratic institutions and practices through legislation, all while maintaining the façade of democracy. Yet, despite these erosions of democratic norms, they are repeatedly returned to power in election after election. Fortunately, not all citizens are captivated. The discerning and critical among them compile a litany of grievances against these autocrats, including institutional capture, the weakening of opposition parties, centralization of power, media control, and the suppression of civil society. However, they struggle to understand the reasons behind the popularity of populists. With little concern for a nation’s people, the populist leader continues to revive and implement colonial-era policies of divide and rule, suspending civil liberties and imprisoning activists, cartoonists, satirists, and artists. The populist’s appeal lies in their ability to resonate with a sentiment that taps into the political unconscious - specifically, a fear of those who are perceived as different. In pluralistic societies, the populist skillfully manipulates historical memories of community conflicts, triggering suspicion and anxiety. We now live in an age marked by distrust of our fellow citizens and a pervasive fear of brutal repression against dissent. In societies like India, which have previously managed to maintain a delicate social balance among communities with a history of conflict, this balance is now in jeopardy. This erosion of stability is both a cause and a consequence of legal autocratization.