You're Next

I have no idea where the current academic discussion stands, but even prior to my college and grad school experience in the Before Times there has been a long-running debate on the nature of totalitarianism vs. authoritarianism: what defines a totalitarian system, how does it differ from "mere" authoritarianism, does it even exist in the wild etc. Personally I think totalitarianism is more of a theoretical concept and not possible in the real world, but at the same time I wasn't like "WHEW, good thing the Soviet Union wasn't totalitarian!" Authoritarian governments are Bad regardless of intensity, which leads me, as you were all fervently praying, to my point.

OK, full disclosure, this was someone else's point but a) I forget where I saw it and b) it's not super-groundbreaking, just insightful:

Authoritarian governments don't need 24/7 oppression of all possible sources of resistance to maintain control. They just need to make periodic examples of easy targets, preferably among the weak but if they aren't available then people or institutions with relatively low public sympathy. So, in the last few years months weeks shit days we have seen two seemingly disparate groups targeted: immigrants and Big Law. More importantly, though, the intentional, even proudly lawless manner in which the Republicans have carried out their actions is the real message here.

It's not actually You're Next; it's You COULD Be Next. That can be enough to make a person or institution consider their next actions, although to be clear it can actually distort thinking. Look at Columbia University, which bent the knee earlier this week. You think the Republicans are going to let them stand upright again? Please.

Once the precedent is established the ratchet begins to turn. Green card holder today, naturalized citizen tomorrow, full citizen after that. (The latter with US citizen parents, as I realize that seal has already been broken.) Paul Weiss today, &c.

Each acquiescence is license to continue, to escalate, to de facto become part of the regime. Moreover, acquiescence may well not be a one-and-done, as I absolutely guarantee Columbia will discover.

Every single one of us, all of our institutions, are under threat. How we respond will determine how much we can save. This is going to be really hard.