Even a Trump midterm loss may not halt US authoritarian drift
The author argues that a possible defeat for Donald Trump in the November 3 midterms would not end the United States' turn toward authoritarianism, citing recent US sanctions on the ICC and the growing power of American tech firms.
In a debate column the writer contends that a Trump defeat in the November 3 midterms would not stop the United States from moving toward authoritarian rule. The piece references the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to honor Navi Pillay for her work with the ICC and the UN’s Palestine inquiry, after which the US tightened sanctions that deny the court essential financial and technological services. It explains how American banks and tech giants such as Alphabet-Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, OpenAI and Tesla are being leveraged to enforce political aims, leaving Norway highly dependent on US systems for its economy, defense and the sovereign wealth fund.
The author further warns that the rise of artificial intelligence, now generating over half of internet communication, concentrates power in the hands of tech barons like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and Alex Karp, undermining democratic resistance. Historical references to past US-led international institutions underscore the paradox of America now attacking the very legal order it helped build. The column concludes that the combination of ideological fervor and digital control creates a “perfect storm” against democracy.
Why it matters
It shows how US political and tech power could shape global democracy and affect Norway’s economic independence.
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