With Apologies to Sin Shake Sin for that title…

AI can do a lot of things. One of the things its really good at is taking massive amounts of information and boiling it down into something manageable. Perfect for this.

I chose two popular AI sites. I asked them both the same two questions.

Question 1: Were you trained on any historical documents that included an analysis of how fascists and authoritarians rise to power in a democracy?

In short, the answer was yes. And it was good to confirm that each AI had access to a lot of information.

Question 2: If I lived in a democratic society, what would be the top 10 things to watch out for that would indicate a political group wanted to install a fascist leader within my country?

Two AIs. One Answer

Here is what the first AI said:

Great question—and an important one. History has shown us that fascist and authoritarian movements often begin subtly, operating within legal frameworks and democratic institutions while gradually eroding them. If you live in a democratic society, here are 10 major warning signs that a political group may be aiming to install a fascist or authoritarian leader:

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1. Demonizing Political Opponents as Enemies of the State

• Language like “traitor,” “enemy of the people,” or “unpatriotic” aimed at critics or opponents.
• Efforts to delegitimize opposition parties, media, and institutions as threats to the nation.

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2. Undermining Trust in Elections and Democratic Processes

• Spreading false claims of election fraud.
• Refusing to accept legitimate election results.
• Attempting to suppress votes or manipulate district boundaries (gerrymandering).

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3. Normalizing Political Violence or Intimidation

• Encouraging violence against opponents or protesters.
• Downplaying or justifying attacks on democratic institutions (like a parliament or capitol building).
• Using militias or vigilante groups as political enforcers.

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4. Controlling or Undermining Independent Media

• Labeling journalists as “fake news” or “enemies of the people.”
• Pushing for state-run media or consolidating media ownership among loyalists.
• Harassing or intimidating critical journalists.

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5. Politicizing the Judiciary and Law Enforcement

• Appointing loyalists to judicial positions, regardless of qualifications.
• Using the courts and police to punish critics or protect allies.
• Undermining the independence of institutions meant to provide checks and balances.

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6. Weaponizing Nationalism and Cultivating a Cult of Personality

• Promoting extreme nationalism, often tied to ethnicity, religion, or culture.
• Creating a narrative that only one leader can “save” the country.
• Using symbols, slogans, or rallies to build emotional loyalty over rational debate.

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7. Scapegoating Minorities or Outsiders

• Blaming immigrants, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ people, or others for societal problems.
• Proposing exclusionary or violent policies against these groups.
• Dehumanizing language (“infestation,” “vermin,” etc.).

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8. Attacking Truth, Science, and Expertise

• Rejecting factual information that contradicts the political group’s narrative.
• Promoting conspiracy theories or “alternative facts.”
• Undermining public trust in science, education, and academia.

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9. Bypassing or Dismantling Democratic Norms and Institutions

• Ignoring the constitution or rewriting it to consolidate power.
• Overriding parliamentary or congressional authority.
• Declaring states of emergency to justify extraordinary powers.

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10. Corruption and Cronyism

• Shielding allies from accountability.
• Using government resources for personal or political gain.
• Allowing oligarchic or corporate interests to override public interest.

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These signs usually don’t show up all at once. Instead, they often emerge gradually, with many people rationalizing or minimizing them. That’s part of what makes the slide into authoritarianism so dangerous—it often masquerades as a form of patriotism, reform, or national revival.

Here is the response from AI #2

Early Warning Signs of Fascist/Authoritarian Movements in Democracies

Based on historical patterns, here are key indicators that a political group may be attempting to install an authoritarian or fascist leader:

1. Delegitimization of political opposition – Portraying rivals not just as wrong but as illegitimate, corrupt, or enemies of the state rather than legitimate political actors
2. Attacks on independent media – Systematic efforts to undermine press credibility, labeling critical reporting as “fake news,” or attempting to control media outlets
3. Erosion of institutional independence – Attempts to compromise the independence of courts, electoral bodies, civil service, or law enforcement agencies
4. Demonization of minority groups – Scapegoating ethnic, religious, or other minorities for society’s problems, using dehumanizing language
5. Glorification of strength and violence – Celebrating a cult of toughness, militarism, and force as solutions to social problems
6. Undermining electoral processes – Questioning election outcomes without evidence, changing electoral rules to favor one group, or intimidating voters
7. Extreme polarization of society – Dividing citizens into “true patriots” versus “enemies of the people,” eroding middle ground
8. Calls for “emergency powers” – Exploiting real or manufactured crises to consolidate power and bypass normal democratic constraints
9. Personality cult development – Creating a narrative of an indispensable leader who alone can solve the nation’s problems
10. Nostalgia for mythologized past – Promising to restore former glory or purity, often referencing a semi-fictional “better time”

These warning signs typically don’t appear all at once but accumulate gradually, which is why historians emphasize the importance of recognizing early indicators before democratic institutions are significantly weakened.

If the AI can recognize it, why can’t we?