: Because the leader is popular, many citizens view the dismantling of institutions as "cleaning up" a corrupt or slow-moving "old system."
Scheppele outlines a typical sequence used to consolidate power under the cover of law: Autocratic Legalism | The University of Chicago Law Review autocratic legalism kim lane scheppele upd
Existing rules are reinterpreted to suit the leader's goals, often through loyalists placed in administrative or judicial roles. Global Manifestations : Because the leader is popular, many citizens
Institutional targets and vulnerabilities : Because the leader is popular
The process typically begins with a leader who wins a reasonably free and fair election. They use this "will of the people" as a mandate to attack any institution that limits their power.