When illiberalism becomes civilian militarism: Trump, political strategy, and domestic militarization

Abstract The re-election of Donald Trump has reignited debates about his impact on U.S. democracy. This article examines an underexplored aspect of his leadership: the rhetoric and actions that promote domestic military power and the expansion of other militaristic practices. Using the concept of civilian militarism, it analyzes how Trump's framing of internal threats, shaped by economic decline under neoliberalism, drives his radical political strategy. This dynamic is evident in the Make America Great Again movement, whose militaristic undertones became particularly pronounced during his second term. Drawing on Michael Mann's framework of ideological, economic, military, and political power, as well as Carl Schmitt's theory of political authority, civilian militarism provides a lens for situating Trump's actions within broader historical and comparative contexts, especially Latin American presidential traditions. The article argues that civilian militarism, as a particular form of illiberal governance, blurs the boundary between political and military power when civilian leaders integrate military and militaristic practices into broader governance. While previous research has analyzed Trump's illiberal tendencies, this study focuses on the logic of domestic militarization. By tracing its evolution and drawing parallels abroad, it highlights how civilian militarism, as a phenomenon, threatens democratic stability.