The Humane Colombia and its manual of autocracy

In an age where strongmen cloak themselves in the language of justice, and where populist rhetoric is weaponized to erode institutions from within, Colombia finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. The presidency of Gustavo Petro—once hailed as a beacon of progressive hope—now mirrors, with disturbing fidelity, the autocratic playbook dissected by Anne Applebaum in Autocracy, Inc.

Under the guise of transformation and popular mandate, Petro has cultivated a political theater where dissent is vilified, oversight is portrayed as sabotage, and democratic checks are cast as enemies of the people. What we are witnessing is not a chaotic improvisation, but a calculated mimicry of the global autocratic script: co-opt the media, politicize justice, elevate loyalty over competence, and insulate power through victimhood.

This is not merely about one man’s ambition. It is about how easily democratic backsliding can take root in a country with fragile institutions and collective amnesia. As Applebaum warns, autocracy is no longer exported by tanks—it travels through ideas, networks, and personalities that make a spectacle of democracy while hollowing it from within.

Colombia, once the cautionary tale of armed conflict, now risks becoming the cautionary tale of democratic erosion—fueled not by violence, but by a leadership style steeped in resentment, revisionism, and unchecked power. This article examines that descent.

Media as Megaphone

Applebaum argues that capturing the narrative is central to modern autocracy. In Colombia, public media has shifted conspicuously under the current administration of Hollman Morris. RTVC and affiliated channels have increasingly served as platforms for government messaging, while digital influencers with state contracts propagate pro-government content. This may not be outright censorship, but the strategic alignment of media to reinforce official narratives mirrors what Applebaum describes as “state-sponsored storytelling.”

Judicial Undermining and Strategic Appointments

Applebaum highlights the erosion of judicial independence through both rhetoric and manipulation. In Colombia, concerns have arisen over the politicization of the judiciary, particularly around cases involving campaign finance and executive allies. The appointment of individuals with close ties to the presidency to oversee sensitive legal matters casts doubt on impartiality and stokes fears of selective justice.

Anti-Corruption as Political Weapon

Authoritarian leaders frequently weaponize anti-corruption rhetoric to discredit opponents while shielding allies. This dual standard, Applebaum argues, fosters impunity. Colombia’s recent scandals in the Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) and delayed investigations into high-level officials have intensified public suspicion. Anti-corruption cannot become a partisan tool—or it risks becoming a smokescreen for deeper rot.

Demonizing Dissent and Polarizing the Public

Autocrats thrive on division. In Colombia, political opponents and journalists have been branded as enemies, mafias, or agents of foreign influence. This deliberate vilification undermines the pluralism essential to democratic discourse. Applebaum warns that the creation of internal enemies is a tactic to justify exceptional measures and deflect accountability.

The Myth of the Absolute Mandate

A critical warning in Autocracy, Inc. is the misinterpretation of electoral victory as a license to dismantle institutional constraints. In Colombia, proposals for referenda and constitutional reinterpretations, aimed at circumventing legislative resistance, evoke this danger. Democracy is not just about votes—it is about limits.

A Crossroads

Colombia remains a functioning democracy, but it stands at a precipice. The country faces not a singular crisis, but a systemic drift toward personalized power, cloaked in progressive ideals. Anne Applebaum reminds us that democratic decay often arrives through legal mechanisms and patriotic rhetoric, not military boots.

Colombians must defend their institutions, demand transparency, and resist the temptation of political messianism. The cost of complacency is steep: a democracy in name, but autocracy in practice.