Authoritarian leaders have often used natural disasters to tighten their grasp on power. We are seeing the same happen during the coronavirus crisis, in dictatorships and democracies alike.
The response to these violations from the world’s democracies has barely risen to the level of a whisper. But lest Americans think themselves immune from such power grabs, they should consider that, in late March, the United States Department of JusticeGovernments that adopt such measures justify them as necessary to combat the pandemic. But history shows us that illiberal leaders rarely, if ever, allow their emergency powers to expire.
As we take the fight to Covid-19, we also must do everything we can to protect the health of our democracies. More to the point, we must recognise that, in many ways, defending public health and defending democracy are two fronts in the same battle.Fortunately, civil-society organisations and individuals are not powerless in the face of pandemic crackdowns.
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