Most ordinary soldiers would obey orders to crush democratic institutions

Evidence

In 1977 I asked a sample of Canadian soldiers who had just finished their basic training what they would do if the prime minister suspended the civil liberties of Canadians and declared Parliament closed, when “there are no laws giving the prime minister such powers.” Seventy-six percent said that they would obey orders to take up positions on Parliament Hill to keep the House of Commons from meeting. Ninety-two percent said they would arrest a member of the House of Commons who tried to enter the Parliament buildings. Sixty-three percent said they would, if ordered, shoot at demonstrators who gathered to protest the destruction of democracy (RWA, pp. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 4461 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The Berlin Wall fell for many reasons, but above all it was because the people of East Berlin said, “No more!” We too can be the authors of many “great and beautiful” new facts that reclaim the digital future as humanity’s home. No more! Let this be our declaration. — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1661 (#complicates, via linked claim)

The two activities to repair the damage of delegitimation—speaking truth to conspiracy and enacting democracy—do not call for heroic virtues. Senator Flake’s speech about principled resistance was laudable, a fulfillment of an obligation he took on as a political representative, but it was not heroic. Losing an election or giving up a Senate seat is not a grave sacrifice. Nobody is being imprisoned, exiled, or killed. Electoral defeats and the electoral success of opposition candidates are modest, regular occurrences in democracy, and they should be seen that way. They define democracy. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 364 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Most freshly trained soldiers would obey orders to crush democracy itself — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 4461; Most basic-training soldiers would obey orders to suppress a parliamentary coup. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 4461; Military obedience can mask a private rebellion against authority itself — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 258 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Most freshly trained soldiers would obey orders to crush democracy itself #corroborates (0.95) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 4461
• Ordinary people’s refusal can topple even entrenched systems of power #complicates (0.82) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1661
• Military obedience can mask a private rebellion against authority itself #complicates (0.75) — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 258
• Defending democracy requires ordinary witness, not heroic sacrifice #complicates (0.75) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 364
• Honour-based conscience burdens can push loyal generals into doomed revolt. #complicates (0.72) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1346