The Dark Allure of Authoritarian Style

Colombia’s President Abelardo De La Espriella has sparked widespread disgust by posting a video on social media that shows him walking through rows of white body bags containing the corpses of 23 “neutralized” guerrillas. The footage, complete with a stirring Hollywood-style score, is an exercise in bravado – a show of strength and resolve by a president who’s made no secret of his intention to crack down on crime.

De La Espriella’s words above the video are telling: he promises to confront terrorism without hesitation and boasts that he’s keeping his promise. The language is unmistakable – this is a war on terror, and the president is its commander-in-chief. However, scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that something more insidious is at play here.

De La Espriella’s decision to post such graphic footage is not just about showcasing his resolve – it’s also an attempt to create a spectacle. By doing so, he’s tapping into the basest instincts of his followers and turning death itself into a trophy. This isn’t new territory for De La Espriella or his ilk; El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has been pioneering this genre of politics with slick videos showcasing his mega-prison as a symbol of his toughness on crime.

Donald Trump, too, has made a name for himself with his own brand of performative authoritarianism – think videos of alleged drug boats being blitzed in the Caribbean and Pacific. What’s driving this trend? In part, it’s about optics – these politicians are desperate to appear tough and decisive in the eyes of their voters.

However, it’s also about something deeper: a growing acceptance of violence as a tool of politics. By embracing the dark allure of authoritarian style, these leaders are sending a clear message – that might makes right, and those who oppose us will be dealt with accordingly. This is not just a Colombian problem or an American one; it’s a global trend that speaks to a broader shift in the way we think about politics and violence.

In Brazil, ahead of October’s elections, several candidates are promising lethal attacks on drug traffickers – “we’re going to stain the ground red with their blood,” as one candidate put it. The implications are stark: by normalizing graphic violence as a tool of politics, these leaders are eroding the very fabric of our democracy.

They’re creating an environment in which dissent is seen as treason and opposition is crushed by force. And they’re doing it all under the guise of toughness – that tired old trope that suggests only the strongest survive. But what does this really mean for us? It means we need to start paying attention to the language being used by our leaders, and how it’s being amplified by social media.

We need to recognize when graphic violence is being used as a prop to rally support, rather than as a genuine response to crime. And most importantly, we need to hold those in power accountable for their actions – not just their words. The stakes are high, but the solution isn’t rocket science: we need to demand more from our leaders – more nuance, more empathy, and more respect for human life.

Anything less is a recipe for disaster.