I recently travelled to China with my son, visiting its present capital, Beijing, and its former capital, Xi’an. Xi’an is home to the famous “Terracotta army” of 8000 life-size clay soldiers and horsemen. The figures were created for the mausoleum of the first Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang around 200 BCE, and rediscovered in 1974. Emperor Qin was quite the tyrant: He conscripted one third of China’s adult men to work on his mausoleum, over decades, and he killed anyone whose work displeased him. In its long history, China has had 13 major “dynasties”, periods of hereditary rule by absolutist emperors. Between and even within these dynasties, there have been dozens of civil wars, and shifting national boundaries. China experienced the trauma of invasions and looting by foreign powers multiple times.
In contrast, consider American history. Under democratic government, we have had 1 civil war, lasting four years. We have had no large-scale invasions by foreign powers. Our borders have only expanded, never contracted. We have enjoyed stability and economic growth for almost all our history.
The Chinese Communist Party
China still has authoritarian rule, but not by an emperor: by the Chinese Communist Party, in power since 1949 following another devastating civil war. However, since the Party switched to a “technocratic”, pro-growth authoritarianism in the 1980’s, China’s economic development has been spectacular. It is a proud, modern country with excellent infrastructure. The Chinese are well aware of the wars and instability, as well as the cultural achievements, that punctuate its dynastic history. Perhaps they fear that democracy would bring a return to earlier chaos. Several provinces whose people face the most oppression (Tibet, Xinjiang) might secede. The present form of authoritarianism has brought stability and prosperity for many, at the expense of freedoms that Americans take for granted.
Authoritarianism, American style?
In the 2024 election many Americans were disillusioned by a US Federal government that had become unable to solve basic problems such as securing national borders. Trump supporters wanted a “tough” leader who could just “fix it”. Accordingly, the new administration has issued lots of executive orders, and bullied our international allies, to provide the appearance of strength. But many of the new orders have been blocked by courts, because they contradict existing law made by the Congress. In the United States, successful presidents address big problems by persuading its Congress to pass legislation. However, the Trump administration lacks the discipline to do this work, and thus cannot enduringly satisfy the longing of his supporters for “no bullshit” government. The authoritarianism of Mr. Trump, like so much of his public persona, is actually a fraud.
Sorry, Donald – you can’t be Xi
While I don’t endorse authoritarianism as the best form of government for anyone, at least China’s brand can be understood in the context of its turbulent past. In the USA, our comparatively benign history can’t justify authoritarian government, as it has never been needed for stability or growth. Our Constitution is expressly designed to prevent it. How could a would-be stongman win elections in a country well known for its individualistic, anti-government attitudes? In 2024, half of American voters considered the Democrats to be the actual authoritarians – perhaps because of the perceived speech codes and social engineering of “wokism”, the association of Democrats with mask and vaccine mandates during the pandemic, or their more favorable view of taxation and regulation. Even under a President who longs to be in the same “strongman” club as Russia under Putin and China under Xi Jinping, authoritarianism will not take hold and is failing even now.
The way to return to stronger, more effective central government is for Americans to demand much more of the branch that makes the laws and dispenses the money: The US Congress.
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