For decades, American institutions such as the National Endowment for Democracy have tried to teach the world about political liberty. But now the Americans themselves could do with some advice.

Analysts from places like Turkey and Russia have seen strongman rule established in their own countries and can see similar patterns playing out in Donald Trump’s America. Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center says the “conversations I hear among American liberals now remind me of intellectuals in Moscow just after Putin came to power. There is the same sense of bewilderment and deep concern.”

Gabuev’s advice is that Americans who want to defend democracy and the rule of law need to act fast. Every wrongful detention or ignored court ruling is a “trial balloon”. If there is no effective pushback, would-be authoritarians will go further and faster.