In 1924, an Austro-German far-right leader little known to the public appeared in court. Adolf Hitler was charged with high treason for seeking to overthrow the government in the Munich Beer Hall putschA failed coup by Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler in 1923, during the Weimar Republic. . In the end a sympathetic judge sentenced him to just five years in prison, of which he would only serve nine months.¹

That did not stop Hitler from railing against the corruption and favouritism of the German court system, which he claimed had persecuted him and his fellow NazisA German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II..

This week, Donald Trump appeared in court, charged with falsifying business records. If convicted he could face four years in prison, although the judge could also spare him jail time and fine him instead.

But some say he might even be hoping to go to prison. He has spent the last nine years fulminating against a corrupt "deep stateAccording to an American conspiracy, the deep state is a group of influential government agencies or members who secretly manipulate government policy. " that he claims is trying to keep him out of power.

First, he argues, it tried and failed to stop him from winning the 2016 election. Then, when it failed, it rigged the 2020 election against him.² Now it is trying to do the same in 2024 by persecuting him through the legal system.

For his diehard supporters, there could be no better proof of this narrative than a prison sentence. If Trump has to run for president from prison, he will be able to portray himself as the martyrA person who is killed due to their beliefs, especially their religious beliefs. he has always claimed to be, punished by the "deep state" for standing up for the little guy.

His argument becomes very simple and evocativeBringing images or feelings to mind. : the system takes your money and your freedoms for the benefit of the elites. It frustrates the will of the people and imposes left-wing policies that harm America.

"Now it has tried to stop me because I am the only threat to it. It is not really me they are after: it is you. Elect me, and I will tear the whole rotten thing down and give the power back to the people."

In other words, it is the clarion callA very clear message or strong request. of dictators throughout history. The dictator presents himself and his supporters as the victims. He claims that the democratic order is irredeemably corrupt and that he alone can rip it down and replace it with something that benefits the people.

Many believe this works because it taps into the psychology of crowds. People easily relate to charismatic leaders and can come to believe that they represent them better than the political parties of a representative system.

The first ever dictator, French revolutionary Maximilien RobespierreA French lawyer and statesman, known as one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution. , claimed to be the sole representative of the whole French people. He really believed that his own will was the will of France.

It also works because it taps into people's victim complex. German philosopher Friedrich NietzscheA German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture (1844 - 1900), who became one of the most influential of all modern thinkers. observed that when people believe they are victims, they feel they can act as cruelly and as violently as they like.

So when Trump tells his supporters that he alone represents their interests against a corrupt elite, they believe him. And if he orders them to take up arms to overthrow that elite by force, they will likely believe it is justified.

Is this how dictators win?

Yes: History is replete with examples of dictators rising to power by presenting themselves as righteous outsiders looking to rip down the system on behalf of the people. Trump plays the game all too well.

No: Generally dictators have come to power by more direct means, like a coup d'etatAn illegal takeover of the government. or a violent revolution. Moreover, if Trump wins the election, it will be because undecided voters plump for him, not because of his base.

Or... This stunt will not win the election for Trump. But it could gin up his supporters for a violent overthrow of the government in the event that he loses.