The Koreans show how it’s done
Emergency post in the series: how to beat populist elected dictators
South Korea’s democrats showed they know how to oppose an elected leader plotting an “autogolpe”, or self-coup.
They contested his narrative. Don’t take his bizarre theory that there is a fifth column of South Koreans sympathising with the North seriousy.
They acted fast - the coup was over in two and a half hours - even though it was planned in the middle of the night. The Parliament impeached the president immediately.
They understood normal processes couldn’t be followed. So they climbed over police barricades and voted against the martial law. They might not have had formal constitutional authority to block martial law: but the symbolism of their vote was clear.
Members of the president’s party put country before loyalty to him. They understood their democracy was more important than party structures.
These rules are not the rules of idealised politics. In idealised politics you’re supposed to
Respect the other side’s narrative, and reach consensus with them.
Act deliberately, after due consideration, to achieve the best outcome.
Follow process, because if procedure is by the book, your opponents can’t object to its conclusions.
Support your party leader, because party policies, rather than individual candidates, are what voters choose
But even if those rules are right in normal times — they’re a suicide note when faced with a determined populist autocrat.
Yes, president Yoon was so inept that South Koreans were playing on easy mode: but like a good tutorial, the ease clarifies what you have to do. Are your pro-democracy leaders doing the same?