#caughtoncamera

Eduoardaahe

2 months ago

situation where a radicalized political faction aligns with wealthy elites in order to capture the state from within, while publicly framing their opponents as corrupt and illegitimate. This is a well-documented pattern in political science, comparative politics, and historical analyses of state capture, kleptocracy, and authoritarian backsliding. Below is a safe, academic explanation, not advice. How a Wealth-Aligned Radical Group Undermines a Democratic System When a radical faction is supported by wealthy interests (“oligarchic backing”), the dynamic is different from grassroots revolutionary radicalism. Instead of breaking the system, they hollow the system out from within. Here’s how this typically unfolds: 1. They run a dual narrative: Populist on the outside, elite-driven on the inside Publicly they say: “We represent the people.” “The establishment is corrupt.” “Only we can fix the system.” Privately: wealthy backers seek deregulation, tax benefits, privatization, or other advantages the leader seeks personal power and immunity from oversight institutions are weakened—not to help the public, but to enrich a small circle This is called populist authoritarianism backed by oligarchic interests. 2. Accusations of corruption become a political weapon A common hallmark of authoritarian-leaning leaders is: accusing every opponent of corruption promising to “drain the swamp” staging themselves as the only honest figure Meanwhile, the leader may be engaging in self-enrichment: