Authoritarian regimes, which are built on control, conformity, and the suppression of dissent, often view science with suspicion or outright hostility. While science, by its nature, seeks truth through inquiry, evidence, and open debate, authoritarian systems thrive on imposing rigid narratives that discourage questioning. This fundamental clash between the two can explain why science poses a unique threat to authoritarian rule.
At its core, science is about questioning established beliefs and testing them through experimentation and evidence. In contrast, authoritarians rely on the perception of infallibility to maintain power. They often present themselves as the ultimate authority on all matters, whether political, economic, or social. When science reveals truths that contradict the government’s claims, it weakens their grip on power.
For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some authoritarian leaders resisted scientific advice about masks, vaccines, and public health measures because these facts conflicted with their political messaging. By rejecting scientific findings, these leaders tried to maintain control over public perception, fearing that acceptance of scientific truths would highlight their mismanagement. Donald Trump famously suggested Americans to inject themselves with bleach during the pandemic. Trump’s misinformation may be responsible for the deaths of countless American lives needlessly.
One of the most powerful aspects of science is its ability to cultivate independent thought. It encourages people to ask questions, seek evidence, and think critically about the world around them. Authoritarians, on the other hand, thrive in environments where citizens do not question authority. A society that embraces scientific inquiry is more likely to challenge government propaganda, lies, and distortions.
When citizens are scientifically literate, they become more resistant to manipulation and less likely to accept government-sanctioned misinformation. For authoritarians, this is a direct threat to their ability to control the population. Critical thinking fosters resistance, which is why authoritarian leaders often suppress scientific education or attempt to discredit it.
Science operates in a world of peer review, open data, and transparency. Scientific discoveries are subject to scrutiny by experts in the field, and findings must be replicable. This emphasis on transparency contrasts sharply with the secrecy that is central to authoritarianism. Leaders in authoritarian regimes frequently use censorship and restricted access to information to maintain control, hiding inconvenient truths that could undermine their power.
For example, authoritarian governments might suppress environmental science because it reveals the destructive impact of their industrial policies. China’s initial cover-up of the COVID-19 outbreak is another instance where transparency in science was viewed as a threat. When scientific facts are buried, the regime controls the narrative. But when those facts emerge, the government is forced to confront its own failures.
Scientific advancements often lead to social progress, something that authoritarian regimes resist. Authoritarian leaders usually prefer a static social order that preserves their dominance, while science can spark changes that threaten this order. Whether in areas like healthcare, human rights, or environmental policy, scientific advancements challenge traditional power structures and often empower marginalized groups.
For instance, advances in reproductive health and climate science frequently conflict with the policies of authoritarian regimes that benefit from maintaining control over resources or populations. The rise of renewable energy, for example, poses a threat to regimes reliant on fossil fuels for economic power. Science encourages adaptation and progress, whereas authoritarianism seeks to maintain the status quo.
Science is inherently collaborative, with researchers from different countries working together to solve global challenges. This collaboration flies in the face of the isolationist, nationalist rhetoric that many authoritarian regimes rely on. Global scientific cooperation can expose the weaknesses of authoritarian governance, particularly when international experts criticize a country’s handling of issues like public health, human rights, or the environment.
Authoritarian leaders may also fear that global scientific communities will highlight their regime’s failures, causing them to lose legitimacy both at home and abroad. For example, as climate scientists around the world push for collective action to combat climate change, authoritarian governments that depend on fossil fuels may resist these efforts, viewing them as a threat to their economic model, personal fortunes and political stability.
Authoritarians frequently use propaganda to control the population’s perception of reality. By spreading misinformation or promoting state-approved narratives, they can maintain their grip on power. Science, however, is grounded in evidence and testing, making it a formidable weapon against propaganda. When scientific facts contradict the government’s narrative, it erodes public trust in the regime.
For example, authoritarian regimes that downplay the effects of climate change are often confronted by overwhelming scientific evidence proving otherwise. As the effects of climate change become more visible, the government’s propaganda becomes harder to maintain, and public dissent grows.
Authoritarians crave control, and science, by its nature, can be unpredictable. New discoveries can upend established systems and lead to technological or social changes that are beyond the government’s ability to manage. Innovation—whether it’s in renewable energy, information technology, or healthcare—can shift power dynamics and undermine the traditional sources of control that authoritarian leaders depend on.
The internet and social media are prime examples of how scientific innovation can disrupt authoritarian control. The rise of digital communication has allowed people in authoritarian countries to organize protests, share information, and bypass state-controlled media. These tools, born from scientific advances, pose a direct threat to authoritarian regimes.
Authoritarians fear science because it is a force for change, progress, and truth. While they seek control, conformity, and obedience, science thrives on questioning, exploration, and transparency. In a world where scientific inquiry is allowed to flourish, authoritarian regimes find it increasingly difficult to maintain their power, making science one of their greatest enemies.
Image by AWF
