3d ago

What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an authoritarian power-grab.

wagingnonviolence.org What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an authoritarian power-grab

South Koreans reversed a martial law decree in just 6 hours, showing how ordinary citizens and politicians can take fast action to uphold democracy.

South Koreans reversed a martial law decree in just six hours, showing how ordinary citizens and politicians can take fast action to uphold democracy.

United States | News & Politics @midwest.social

Cat @ponder.cat

3d ago

What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an authoritarian power-grab.

wagingnonviolence.org /2025/02/lessons-from-south-koreans-who-stopped-martial-law-coup/

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USpolitics @lemmy.world

Cat @ponder.cat

3d ago

What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an authoritarian power-grab.

wagingnonviolence.org /2025/02/lessons-from-south-koreans-who-stopped-martial-law-coup/

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17 comments

Step one: live in a country the size of Kentucky with the population of Texas + Florida, half of whom live in the capital's metro region while the other half live within half-a-day's drive.
The US's geography makes comparisons with successful protests in much smaller countries basically moot.
- Getting millions of Americans to march on the Capital would likely take a week just because of the insane traffic.
  
  But would anyone in the DC area even notice?

This requires an opposition party, which we don’t have in the US
- Also requires citizens who weren't completely numb.
  
  And strong unions
  
  Theoretically you only need 3.5% to not be numb and oppose
  https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr/publications/questions-answers-and-some-cautionary-updates-regarding-35-rule

South Koreans had direct, lived experience with authoritarianism and thus don't want to go back to it. The US is yet to experience it in order to learn the lesson. People generally tend to learn only after experience.

Korean president has very low approve rating and is quite unsophisticated in political operation. The martial law drama was widely considered stupid move by the president.
Trump II on the other hand is much more experienced and thoughtful in executing his playbook. America has a lower chance coming back from authoritarian, and the sacrifice needed to pull this off will be vast.
- If Trump declared martial law with the flimsiest of excuses you'd get millions of Americans saying, "About time he stopped pussyfooting around!"

I guarantee the Trump administration and Project 2025 authors are doing an in depth review of this coup so they can learn how to do it even better and not make the same mistakes. “Let’s see…protesters used social media to organize. We should be sure to blackout social media when martial law is prepared. Hey Elon, Zuck, can you guys help us out?” Etc.
This article gives Trump a playbook for exactly how to squash a rebellion. If we want to fight, we have to be prepared that they will have learned from South Korea and adapted.

(...) martial law forces gradually withdrew from the National Assembly building.
... what would these be in the USA ? military or National guards or what ?

Americans.....learn.....we don't do that here

Heh. Asians outperforming as usual.

17 comments