Authoritarian Playbooks in Practice: A Framework for Identifying Strategies and Assessing Impacts of Authoritarian Tactics to Enable Democratic Resilience

In recent years, the global political landscape has witnessed a significant rise in authoritarian strategies disguised under the veneer of democratic norms. This phenomenon is often referred to as the third wave of autocratization, and has prompted the emergence of a wide body of literature. In this paper, we aim to answer the panel's question “what strategies do illiberal norm entrepreneurs use?” by examining Authoritarian Playbooks, that is, at the strategies and moves that are implemented by illiberal actors to undermine democracy. Thus, in our conceptualisation, authoritarian moves represent the practical manifestation of illiberal norms, for which we propose a framework to better understand them. With this framework, authoritarian moves can be systematically mapped, assessed and compared regarding their impact on democracy. Accordingly, the study unfolds in three interconnected phases. First, it systematically maps authoritarian moves, synthesising insights from existing scholarship to categorise the strategies employed by authoritarian actors to promote illiberal norms. This mapping identifies recurring patterns, such as the strategic use of digital platforms for misinformation, the co-opting of legal frameworks to suppress dissent, and the undermining of independent institutions through subtle legislative changes. Second, we evaluate the relative impact of these moves on democracy—which often masquerade as being based on liberal principles – highlighting both their destructive potential and their prospective ripple effects. To this end we rely on existing research and democratic indices to evaluate this impact. Third, we provide insights on the most pressing cases of authoritarian threats. Through this research approach, our paper contributes to addressing empirical gaps in the study of illiberal norm entrepreneurship by offering a structured framework to identify and evaluate authoritarian tactics. The paper aims to provide policymakers, civil society actors, and pro-democracy advocates with practical insights into the mechanisms through which these tactics impact democratic institutions. By mapping and analysing authoritarian moves, the research facilitates a clearer understanding of current challenges to democracy and informs strategies to strengthen democratic resilience in diverse political contexts. Co-authors: Karoline Helbig and Aurora Mane