The Politics of Fear
Framing Panic As Policy
As advanced as we are as a species, we’re still wired by our animal instincts. And the easiest of these evolutionary tripwires to set off is fear.
I recently heard House Speaker Mike Johnson make a statement about reforming Medicaid. I won’t dissect the politics here, but one line stuck out:
“We have said repeatedly we are protecting Medicaid for the people who need and deserve it... Without reform, the program is in danger of collapse.”
It wasn’t just a policy statement. It was persuasion. The kind of persuasion that leverages fear. Fear is a tool governments use to justify sweeping changes, often at the expense of public scrutiny and democratic norms. Why? Because it works.
As someone who's worked in advertising, I’ve seen this play out up close. It’s called 'fear appeal'. You trigger an emotion, like loss, shame, or danger, and then offer a product, idea, or action as the escape hatch. Politicians use this tactic constantly. The only difference? In advertising, the worst-case scenario is buyer's remorse. In politics, it's the potential collapse of democratic systems and institutions that stands to affect its citizens.
It starts with identifying a threat or a looming danger. Whether it's terrorism, economic collapse, theft, or a public health crisis. It can be just about anything. This looming catastrophe is then reinforced by telling us that inaction will inevitably lead to disaster.
Although sometimes these fears might be justified, many times the solution offered is a controversial policy. A policy that might otherwise face opposition. Leveraging our fear, that policy can be presented as a necessary evil to avert the crisis.
The Trump administration's portrayal of immigrants as threats led to policies like the travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, and the "zero-tolerance" policy resulted in family separations at the border.
The Obama administration highlighted the dangers of the existing healthcare system to push for the Affordable Care Act, suggesting that without reform, many would suffer or die due to a lack of coverage.
History is full of examples from around the world, and it doesn’t just warn us that fear can be abused. It shows us what happens when fear becomes a government’s foundation. From the Reichstag Fire to Guantanamo Bay, from Soviet purges to China’s surveillance state, fear has always offered rulers a shortcut to compliance, and the public a reason not to question it.
For all our advancements in quantum computing, AI, space travel... our decision-making is still driven by lizard-brain mechanics: fight, flight, freeze. Politicians don’t need to outsmart the public; they just need to trigger our instincts faster than we can reflect. And fear? It’s the fastest trigger there is.
We like to think of ourselves as rational beings, evolved and enlightened. But most of what moves us, especially in politics, isn't reason. It's reflex. We scroll, vote, and react not with logic, but with ancient circuitry tuned for survival. Fear sells not because we're dumb, but because we're still running on software built for surviving saber-toothed tigers.
Fear is one of the most primal emotions we experience. It bypasses our logical brain and triggers instinctive responses. Fear kept our ancestors alive. It helped them avoid danger, react quickly, and prioritize survival over deliberation. In political terms, that same wiring makes us vulnerable to manipulation.
We fear loss more than we value gain. We cling to the familiar. And when we’re told something is about to be taken from us, or that change itself is a threat, those ancient alarm bells start ringing. In that moment, reason takes a back seat.
To be clear, fear isn’t always unjustified. The world is full of real threats: pandemics, climate disruption, and natural disasters. But when fear becomes the dominant frame, nuance disappears. Instead of debate, we get demands. Instead of transparency, we get urgency. Fear doesn’t have to lie to manipulate. It just has to be persuasive.
Fear in governance isn't going anywhere, but with the power of social media, it can spread faster and further than ever before. The use of fear can deepen divisions, as parties portray each other as existential threats. In this political climate, everyone's shouting: the sky is falling, because fear makes everything sound urgent.
Luckily, once we're aware of the strategy, we can adapt. It's easy to fall for fear tactics because we're wired to do so, but when you're aware of it, you can assess the motivations behind the words. Especially those presented in crises. Do your research and demand clear, evidence-based justifications for any sweeping changes. Get involved and engaged. Don't just stand by the sidelines waiting for the next bomb to drop. Participate in the democratic process to counteract the use of fear in politics. Because the scariest thing about fear isn’t the feeling itself. It’s what we are willing to allow in its name.
🔍 Global Lessons in Fear + Further Reading:
Germany – The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act | READ
In Germany, communists were blamed for the Reichstag fire, stoking fears of a communist uprising. It gave Hitler the excuse to pass the Enabling Act, granting him near-total power and laying the foundation for his dictatorship.
Soviet Union – The Great Purge (1936–1938) | READ
In the Soviet Union, Stalin framed internal enemies as existential threats to the state. This gave the government the power for mass arrests, executions, and a culture of paranoia that sustained his authoritarian control.
Post-9/11 United States – Guantanamo Bay & Torture Programs | READ
After the attacks on 9/11, fear of another terrorist attack justified the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and indefinite detentions. This resulted in human rights violations and long-term damage to the credibility of the United States.
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Thanks for being here. Stay Curious. Question Everything.
–Luis