Autocratic Capture: The Assault on American Democracy — Trump Reruns Orbán

by Robert McCollister, Patrick Grace (Editor)

What if democracy doesn’t end with a coup—but with elections that never truly threaten those in power? Around the world, leaders have learned how to keep democratic institutions while making sure they can't lose.

A single line in the 2024 presidential debate revealed an important Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has become a model for a new kind of politics. Leaders pressure independent media, reshape courts, attack civil society, and change election rules. The result is a system that looks democratic but rarely allows real competition. This book explores how this strategy works, how it spread globally, and what it could mean for the future of American democracy.

A well-researched and compellingly written account of how Viktor Orbán turned Hungary from a democracy into a dictatorship.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2026

Reviews

[Robert Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of contemporary political processes, as well as summaries of historic political events.
The author's discussions are extremely well worded and clear. I very much enjoyed reading "Autocratic Capture"!