Autocratic legalism sits in the treacherous space between them. It is, Scheppele writes, the use of liberal legal forms to achieve autocratic ends . The autocrat does not burn the constitution; he reinterprets it. He does not abolish parliament; he shrinks its quorum. He does not jail all opposition journalists; he passes a defamation law with such breathtakingly vague standards that only the government’s critics are charged.
: Changing election laws to ensure the leader never leaves office, effectively ending the rotation of power. IV. Case Studies & Updates (2024–2026) Autocratic Legalism - The University of Chicago Law Review autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd