To stand up to a dictator, according to Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize- winning journalist who has faced authoritarian repression herself, one must expose the dictator’s methods, not back down, and be willing to risk personal freedom. Practical steps include holding technology companies accountable for spreading disinformation, growing investigative journalism, and building global communities that protect frontline journalists by collaborating among free press, media, and civil society groups. It requires embracing core values like honesty, empathy, and fear management, creating teams, strengthening your area of influence, and connecting with others to build a mesh of resistance rather than an us-vs-them mentality. The fight is often risky and requires persistence even when freedom is threatened or curtailed.
Core Strategies to Stand Up to a Dictator
- Expose Methods : Reveal how dictators use propaganda, disinformation, and censorship to maintain control.
- Hold Technology Accountable : Pressure social media and tech platforms to regulate content and protect journalistic ethics.
- Invest in Journalism : Support investigative journalism that uncovers truth and holds power accountable.
- Build Coalitions : Connect different groups, both locally and globally, to protect democratic norms and share resources.
- Embrace Values : Stand firm in honesty, vulnerability, empathy, and courage in the face of fear.
- Community Over Confrontation : Build a supportive network rather than framing struggles as purely adversarial.
Maria Ressa’s experience highlights these principles, especially in the context of digital authoritarianism where social media can be weaponized to spread lies and hate, bolstering autocratic regimes.
This approach emphasizes sustained resilience, strategic action, and collective effort to defend democracy and resist dictatorship.
