The provided text examines how modern democracies are susceptible to authoritarian takeovers, shifting from traditional military coups to a more insidious "executive corrosion" from within. It outlines a systematic "authoritarian playbook" involving the subversion of the rule of law, control of information, and manipulation of democratic processes. The text further identifies key vulnerabilities that enable this decay, such as economic inequality, the rise of populism and exclusionary nationalism, and psychological factors that make citizens receptive to strongman leaders. Finally, it addresses how digital technology, particularly social media, accelerates these processes by spreading disinformation and deepening societal divides, concluding with strategies for building democratic resilience.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.