Re-reading @MashaGessen from 2016.
"Trump is the first candidate in memory who ran not for president but for autocrat—and won."
In this article she outlined 6 rules for survival in an autocracy:
nybooks.com/daily/2016/11/…
"Trump is the first candidate in memory who ran not for president but for autocrat—and won."
In this article she outlined 6 rules for survival in an autocracy:
nybooks.com/daily/2016/11/…
#1. Believe the autocrat.
He actually means what he says, even when people think that he's joking/exaggerating. Humans are in denial when "when confronted publicly with the unacceptable".
He actually means what he says, even when people think that he's joking/exaggerating. Humans are in denial when "when confronted publicly with the unacceptable".
#2. Do not be taken in by small signs of normality.
Catastrophes unfold over time. The slowness of this change is devious, because when people wake up to its reality, it will seem as if it happened overnight.
Catastrophes unfold over time. The slowness of this change is devious, because when people wake up to its reality, it will seem as if it happened overnight.
#3. Institutions will not save you.
Gessen in 2016: "The national press is likely to be among the first institutional victims of Trumpism."
The institutions are enshrined in political culture rather than law. "Coverage, and thinking, will drift in a Trumpian direction."
Gessen in 2016: "The national press is likely to be among the first institutional victims of Trumpism."
The institutions are enshrined in political culture rather than law. "Coverage, and thinking, will drift in a Trumpian direction."
#4. Be outraged.
"But in the face of the impulse to normalize, it is essential to maintain one’s capacity for shock."
People will call you unreasonable and hysterical. Be prepared to be that person.
"But in the face of the impulse to normalize, it is essential to maintain one’s capacity for shock."
People will call you unreasonable and hysterical. Be prepared to be that person.
#5. Don’t make compromises.
"In an autocracy, politics as the art of the possible is in fact utterly amoral." People will say that cooperation is essential for the future. This means that you ignore, and allow, corruption and criminal behavior.
"In an autocracy, politics as the art of the possible is in fact utterly amoral." People will say that cooperation is essential for the future. This means that you ignore, and allow, corruption and criminal behavior.
#6. Remember the future.
Trumpism will not last, but the societal change is real. We need to be better at imagining and demonstrating alternative futures.
As designers, we should be thinking speculative & critical design, ethical futurism and strategic foresight.
Trumpism will not last, but the societal change is real. We need to be better at imagining and demonstrating alternative futures.
As designers, we should be thinking speculative & critical design, ethical futurism and strategic foresight.
On my wish list this December are a couple of books from @mashagessen. Check out her bibliography here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masha_Ges…
