Creeping authoritarianism: Grace Da Costa makes the case for resistance
‘It isn’t too late to turn the tide.’
Is it still overdramatic to say that we are sleepwalking into authoritarianism? That we are heading for a state where the government has all the power; where individuals, civil society, and other institutions are powerless to bring about change?
If we are, and I fear it is so, it isn’t too late to turn the tide.
The warning signs
I have been refreshing my knowledge on the signs of authoritarianism. Common themes run through the literature, many of which can be seen in the UK today: weaponising fear, undermining institutions, the politics of division, targeting of minorities, corruption, disregard for human rights, and the erosion of truth.
Authoritarian regimes often grow from a context of social and economic insecurity. In the UK we’re facing a cost of living crunch, a climate crisis, war in Europe, a global pandemic, and severe inequality.
Growing social movements on issues such as climate justice and racial equality represent a potential threat to the government.
Instead of tackling the causes of these issues, the government has responded by cracking down on protest rights and diverting attention with populist policies like deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda.
I have a sense that the fear created by the current context is being weaponised, with a blaming of ‘others’ for the awful situation many people find themselves in. Those accused and targeted include ‘woke’ people, climate protestors, ‘lefty human rights lawyers’, foreigners, migrants, ethnic minorities, and people convicted of crimes. These groups have been attacked by rhetoric, policy and legislation.
A majority of MPs and peers voted through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act this year. An act which will deprive many ethnic minority people of their liberty and dignity, which will criminalise the way of life of Gypsies and Travellers, and bring in measures which disproportionately affect black people and other people of colour, including serious violence prevention orders and longer sentences. It barely featured in the popular media.
The government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary year heralded further bills to restrict and undermine our human rights.
Many politicians, along with much of the media, have devalued the currency of truth in public life. They say one thing, but mean another. ‘Freedom of expression’ means that the expression of bigoted views is allowable, while anti-arms trade campaigners are silenced.
The so-called ‘rights’ of polluting corporations not to be disturbed by demonstrations, or the ‘right’ of landowners not to be bothered by trespassers, are put above the rights of ethnic minorities and people concerned about our continued reliance on fossil fuels.
Allegations of corruption, lying, law-breaking, fraud and sexual misconduct across the political spectrum cause a minor stir and then fade into the background without being properly addressed.
Any institution that might hold the government and the media to account is undermined through rhetoric, legislation and cronyism.
This includes the judiciary, the BBC, Channel 4, the Electoral Commission, and the Charity Commission. Politicians, journalists and campaigners who stand up for truth and integrity – of which there are still many – are increasingly marginalised.
What this means for Quakers
I’m not a Quaker, so I’m not the best person to say why this matters to Quakers. But I know that democracy is generally seen as compatible with the Testimony to Equality. Pauline Leader states in Quaker faith & practice that ‘The Society of Friends… has, since the early days, attempted a more truly democratic and participative way of working than has been customary in society at large’ (23.42).
Authoritarianism, on the other hand, centralises power with the few, rather than distributing it equally among the many. It is, by definition, unequal.
Quakers have a long history of standing alongside the marginalised and championing human rights. As power is taken away from the people and centralised in government, it becomes harder to work towards the Quaker vision of a peaceful, sustainable world.
What Friends are already doing
Quakers are already doing so much in this area. Quaker-Recognised Bodies including the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN), Quaker Concern for the Abolition of Torture (Q-CAT), and Quakers in Criminal Justice (QICJ) are defending and promoting human rights. The new Quaker Truth and Integrity Group (QTIG) is exploring how Quakers can enhance truth and integrity in public life.
At a national level, Quakers in Britain have been on the steering group of the Police Bill Alliance, campaigning against the protest and trespass parts of this new law. We’ve responded to consultations on the Human Rights Act, and signed joint letters on the Nationality and Borders Act and other equalities issues.
Quakers across the country have written to their MPs, protested, and posted on social media.
But as politics and society changes, our tactics may also need to change. The tactics we used in the past are decreasingly effective – ministers and MPs often don’t reply to emails, nonviolent protests are restricted, and progressive voices aren’t always heard.
That doesn’t mean we should give up on those tactics. But perhaps we need to explore new ways of working.
What can we do now?
I don’t have an easy answer to this question. But I do think Friends need to consider it urgently.
As Thomas Penny explained in his 2021 Swarthmore Lecture, Quakerism emerged from similar circumstances to those we are experiencing today: economic and social upheaval, questioning of authority, and conflicting narratives.
If Quakers are going to step up to the plate, they must consider a number of related questions: How do we raise awareness of what’s happening, without causing more anxiety than is tolerable, and without making people feel completely powerless? How can we lend our strength to existing campaigns and coalitions, and find areas where we can help in unique ways? How can we use our privilege to stand up for the rights of minorities, in a way that empowers them and amplifies their voices? How do we campaign on democracy, while continuing our campaigns on climate justice, peace and other key issues? How do we not get burnt out? What tactics can we use to bring about change now – quiet diplomacy, or loud direct action? How do we change hearts and minds, as well as policies? How do we love our political opponents and work with them to reach kinder ground?
As Thomas Penny said, the pursuit of truth is a positive activity. The same is true for many values related to democracy. We must not let ourselves be swept with the tide, but actively seek to turn it towards our vision.
The vision of a democratic society where people are truthful with each other, the law applies equally to all, and everyone can participate equitably in working towards a more sustainable and peaceful world.
Grace Da Costa is public affairs and media manager at Britain Yearly Meeting.
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