Project 2025 as a Roadmap to Fascism and Theocracy

Examining the Conservative Blueprint for Empowering White Supremacy, Religious Patriarchy, and the Global Oligarchy

The “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,” or “Project 2025,” outlines an agenda for the 2025 presidential election that, viewed from a liberal perspective, reflects a worrisome shift in American governance. While framed as a return to “American values,” Project 2025 appears to endorse a future that aligns with White supremacy, religious patriarchy, and the interests of a global oligarchy. Through policies that undermine global alliances, empower corporations, and marginalize minority communities, this framework threatens the core principles of democracy, justice, and inclusivity in American society. Below, we examine how Project 2025 could erode democratic norms, reinforce a theocratic social structure, and embolden authoritarian and oligarchic influences.

Erosion of Democratic Norms

Undermining the legitimacy of elections
Project 2025 frames the political landscape as a battle between “woke revolutionaries” and advocates of “American ideals,” which implicitly questions the legitimacy of those who do not align with its conservative ideology. This divisive language fosters an “us vs. them” mentality, which can justify efforts to restrict voting rights, delegitimize election outcomes, and dismantle avenues for fair political participation. This rhetoric reflects past conservative efforts to contest election results and limit voting access, particularly impacting marginalized communities.

Contempt for democratic processes and institutions
The agenda frequently attacks the “Administrative State,” labeling career civil servants as agents of an unaccountable bureaucracy and advocating for their removal. This framing disregards the essential expertise, institutional memory, and commitment to public service provided by these professionals. By advocating for their removal and replacement with ideologically aligned appointees, the agenda threatens the nonpartisan civil service foundation essential to fair governance and weakens democratic accountability, creating a government increasingly loyal to ideology over competence.

Concentrating power in the executive branch
A concerning element of Project 2025 is its call for the “aggressive use” of executive power to achieve its objectives, bypassing traditional checks and balances. This emphasis on an unrestrained executive reflects a preference for strongman rule, as seen in authoritarian regimes where executive power becomes absolute. Such moves challenge the constitutional framework of checks and balances, increasing the risk of authoritarianism.

The Rise of Theocracy

Blurring the lines between church and state
While advocating for “religious freedom,” Project 2025 integrates specific religious beliefs into government policy. This perspective casts secular and progressive policies as corrosive and “pseudo-religious,” while framing issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and environmentalism as threats to American values. This approach signals an intent to impose a religiously influenced vision on government, blurring the lines between church and state and undermining the secular nature of American governance.

Weaponizing religion to shape policy
The agenda implies that faith-based institutions aligned with conservative values should be shielded from scrutiny while secular or progressive institutions face restrictions. By calling to protect organizations that “reject woke progressivism,” Project 2025 risks selectively empowering religious views while excluding others. This would erode the separation between personal belief and public policy, limiting freedom of thought and expression for those who do not adhere to the dominant religious ideology.

Empowering Global Dictators and Oligarchs

Turning a blind eye to human rights abuses
Project 2025 condemns China as a “totalitarian enemy” yet expresses ideological alignment with authoritarian figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who share conservative values. Additionally, the agenda calls for reducing U.S. funding for international organizations, such as the UN and WHO, which promote human rights and humanitarian efforts. This selective condemnation of authoritarianism reveals a prioritization of ideological alignment over democracy, legitimizing global authoritarians with values counter to human rights and democratic norms.

Prioritizing corporate interests over the common good
The agenda repeatedly emphasizes deregulation and tax cuts that benefit corporations and wealthy individuals, often at the expense of environmental protections, worker rights, and social safety nets. This alignment with corporate interests amplifies economic inequality, enabling a global oligarchy to consolidate power at the expense of democratic accountability and the well-being of working-class Americans.

Increased militarization and nationalism
Support for expanded military spending and economic nationalism within Project 2025 further isolates the U.S. from global diplomatic efforts. This focus risks escalating international tensions, weakening multilateral alliances, and fostering environments that allow authoritarian regimes to grow stronger.

Conclusion: A Vision Threatening Democracy, Diversity, and Global Cooperation

While framed as a restoration of American values, Project 2025 outlines a vision favoring White supremacy, religious patriarchy, and a global oligarchy. By promoting policies that weaken global alliances, empower corporations, and marginalize minority communities, this framework signals a potential shift toward authoritarianism and theocracy. This vision risks isolating America from its allies, undermining inclusive democracy, and enabling a privileged few to wield disproportionate power at the expense of social equity, global cooperation, and the rule of law.

Such a future would erode the principles of justice, inclusivity, and accountability foundational to American democracy, concentrating power in ways that silence diverse voices and restrict opportunities for many in favor of an elite minority.

A Call to Action: Protecting Democracy, the Rule of Law, and Pluralism

In light of Project 2025’s agenda, the Democratic Party and advocates for democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of church and state must unite around a proactive, resilient strategy. This includes championing policies that bolster democratic institutions, safeguard voting rights, protect civil liberties, and reinforce impartial government expertise. Democrats can prioritize legislative efforts to maintain an independent civil service, uphold vital social programs, and prevent the rollback of regulatory protections for diverse communities.

Additionally, the Democratic Party can advocate for preserving multilateral alliances and global cooperation, recognizing that strong alliances with democratic nations reinforce not only America’s global role but also the shared pursuit of human rights and peace. To counter efforts to erode the separation of church and state, Democrats and allies should protect religious freedom in ways that honor pluralism without imposing any single belief system. By pursuing transparent, inclusive, and equitable policies, they can reaffirm the values of democracy and ensure that America’s future remains resilient against authoritarian shifts.

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