24.1.2025

Change of power in a new dimension

Last Monday a convicted criminal in 34 cases and a proven notorious liar became the democratically elected President of the United States of America, the largest economy, strongest military power, oldest democracy in the world and leading force of the free West and thus the most powerful man in the world. The same man - before and after being voted out - tried to prevent it in 2020 through voter fraud and triggered the historic storm on the Capitol, which Americans see as the heart of American democracy, with several deaths. There are even numerous members of parliament who are convinced that the 2020 election was stolen. For over ten years the same man has tailored the Republican Party exclusively to himself and is currently filling the cabinet based on the sole criterion of loyalty to him, regardless of a lack of competence or character suitability. The pardon for the convicted attendees of the attack of the Capitol is a slap in the face of Justice and emphasizes the sole relevance of loyalty to him. Majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives, the so-called “super-majority”, and immunity granted by the Supreme Court give the same man unprecedented power.

In comments, parallels to 1933 are occasionally drawn, which you can share or not. The question arises as to how this is possible.

The power of repetition

In the summer of 2020, months before the upcoming election, in view of poor poll numbers for him, claims started that the upcoming election would probably not be conducted correctly. These claims were never confirmed, but were repeated persistently over months, and that was enough to make large parts of the population believe them. Propaganda works accordingly to the same simple principle in dictatorships that tirelessly convey the same messages in the media. The same approach was also observed in the current election campaign in Germany in the form of deliberately spread false information from Russia on social media. If something is said often enough, it will eventually be believed - it's actually quite simple.

The perpetrator-victim reversal

The pattern of continuously personally attacking and insulting opponents ran throughout the entire election campaign. Internal party critics are defamed and ridiculed. At the same time, every legal action and every process that was directed against him is referred to as a witch hunt. The same simple principle is followed by Russian propaganda, which, despite the fact that a neighboring country has been bombed to the ground for almost three years now, complains about unfriendly states and the threat from the expanding NATO. The victim role has also developed into a popular tool in many other current social and political disputes, which is sometimes more effective than attack - and actually works quite simply. If as much headwind as tailwind blows into a sail the ship stands still.

The effectiveness of conspiracy theories

What conspiracy theories have in common is that they cannot be proven, but also cannot be refuted, and appeal to strong emotions such as fear and envy. The claim of the alleged Deep State, which controls the government from the background, and complaints about the establishment have made it possible for an audience of millions with small and smallest incomes to see a multi-billionaire with a tower in Manhattan, a huge estate in Florida and several golf courses as one of them. Photos of Trump in the garbage man's jacket take effect.

The acceptance of desired messages

The upcoming president's election campaign can be boiled down to stopping inflation and migration. These are simple, understandable and welcomed messages that resonate with most voters. The new president is a master at reading moods and able to add the dose of entertainment that makes these messages even more attractive. Provocation and unpredictability are also entertainment. Whether the announcements will actually materialize is irrelevant. The announced tariff increases will rather boost inflation.

Simple but effective

Whilst most narcissists have built up and use sophisticated manipulative techniques which are hard to recognize this man bets on this savage toolbox. This toolbox is also increasingly used by lots of populists, who are on the rise in many countries. The impressive thing about this toolbox is that it is so effective and at the same time simple - if you have no inhibitions or scruples about using it. And it works again and again.

Considering the parallel lines to a Russian dictatorship and propaganda machinery it is freightening to see the same development in the oldest and most powerful democracy in the Western world.