Why Artists Should Write Novels Criticizing Authoritarian Regimes

Novelists and Fiction Writers Must Chronicle the Evils Perpetuated by a Government Under Authoritarian Control

Exploring the Role of Literature in Challenging Oppression*

Introduction - Why Artists Should Write Novels Criticizing Authoritarian Regimes

Throughout history, artists and writers have stood at the forefront of social change, using their creative talents to shine a light on injustice and inspire movements toward freedom. The novel in particular has proven a powerful medium for critiquing authoritarian regimes, exposing their abuses, and galvanizing resistance, both during the oppression of these regimes, but also after those regimes are long gone. As authoritarianism continues to threaten democratic values in many parts of the world, and, for us, here at home in America, it is more vital than ever for artists to wield their pens with courage, conviction, and, above all, in smart ways. This blog post explores why artists should write novels criticizing authoritarian regimes, examining the unique power of literature to challenge the concept and implementation of oppressive governments, to foster empathy not just for those targeted but for the followers of authoritarians by trying to understand what led the supporters of fascist leaders to back them, as well as to ignite hope for a better future. This is, in my opinion, why artists should write novels criticizing authoritarian regimes.

The Unique Power of the Novel

Novels offer a distinctive platform for dissent because they immerse readers in complex worlds and nuanced perspectives. Unlike essays or journalistic reports, novels can weave together personal stories, historical events, and philosophical reflections, creating a tapestry that reveals the true impact of authoritarian rule on individuals and societies. Through character development and narrative structure, novels make abstract concepts—such as freedom, oppression, and resistance—tangible and relatable.

This narrative intimacy allows readers to empathize with those living under authoritarian regimes, understanding their fears, hopes, and struggles on a deeply human level. By experiencing the protagonist's journey, readers are moved beyond statistics and headlines, connecting emotionally with the consequences of political repression. In doing so, novels can bypass propaganda, offering a counter-narrative that challenges the official story and exposes the truth.

Historical Precedents: Literature Against Tyranny

The tradition of using literature to criticize authoritarianism is long and storied. In the Soviet Union, writers like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Boris Pasternak risked their lives to document the horrors of totalitarian rule. Solzhenitsyn's "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" and Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago" provided piercing insights into the brutality and absurdity of the communist regime, inspiring both domestic and international outrage.

Similarly, George Orwell's "1984" and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" have become iconic critiques of authoritarianism, warning generations about the dangers of surveillance, censorship, and loss of individuality. These novels not only challenged existing regimes but also shaped the vocabulary and imagination of resistance movements worldwide.

In Latin America, writers like Gabriel García Márquez and Mario Vargas Llosa addressed the abuses of military dictatorships, using magical realism and intricate plots to reveal the complexity of life under authoritarianism. Their works helped to humanize victims, critique corrupt systems, and inspire hope for change. What’s happening right now in the United States and in countries around the world is tragic. Trump in the U.S. is sending the military, in particular the National Guard, into Democratic-leaning cities to “quell” crime, while leaving Republican-leaning cities alone, cities that, per capita, have crime rates well above those of the Democratic-leaning cities he’s invading. That’s not okay. And from my perspective, it is the artist’s duty to highlight and question and rise up against such authoritarian actions.

The Moral Obligation for Why Artists Should Criticize Authoritarian Regimes

1. The Moral Responsibility of the Artist

Artists possess a unique ability to shape culture, influence public opinion, and foster empathy. With this power comes a moral responsibility to speak out against injustice. Remaining silent in the face of oppression is not a neutral act; it can tacitly endorse the status quo and allow abuses to continue unchallenged. By writing novels that criticize authoritarian regimes, artists fulfill their ethical duty to bear witness and resist tyranny. Throughout history, it is the writers—in newspapers, magazines, in underground zines, pamphlets, and other “Samizdat” activities. As artists, we must document the atrocities and activities of the oppressors in the United States and abroad. If you’re sitting back right now watching and observing as National Guard troops are being sent to states and cities to intimidate the populace, to abuse them, to invent reasons for terrorizing entire populations, you need to understand that your lack of resistance only emboldens the fascist right wing leaders and their followers who are what the Republican Party has become. No one’s asking you to fight out in the streets; only that you should document, in fiction and other literature, what’s happening. We need a record that will stand the test of time. We need Orwells and Camus, Lao Shes and Faye Schulmans, Richard Wrights and Solzhenitsyns and Harriet Beecher Stowes. If you’re a writer, the pen is your sword. Now is the time to use it.

This is NOT America. Not the one I Want to Live in.

2. Literature as a Catalyst for Change

Novels have the capacity to inspire both individual and collective action. A well-crafted story can awaken readers to the realities of authoritarianism, motivating them to question authority, demand accountability, and support movements for democracy. Literature can serve as a rallying cry, uniting disparate groups around shared values and aspirations.

Novels can reach audiences who might otherwise be indifferent or unaware of political issues. By embedding criticism within compelling narratives, artists can engage readers emotionally and intellectually, broadening the base of resistance. This isn’t always easy. Actually, it’s pretty difficult; I’ve been writing politically based novels for years. They remain unpublished. Whether it’s due to the political aspects of my novels, or perhaps not good enough, I’m not sure. But I won’t stop. I feel a calling to write them because I’m politically active in various ways, but more importantly I understand that as humans, and in this case as Americans, it’s our duty to if not fight against authoritarianism than to put it down on paper so that others can better understand what’s happening to our country. Suddenly, or maybe not so suddenly, we have a wannabe dictator in the White House who’s using the military to quell dissent. Who’s working with the powerful elites to ensure our freedoms of expression, that our First Amendment rights are stripped from us, and that all we’re going to receive is propaganda disguised as news. “Conservatives” are buying news outlets in order to control the narrative. Larry and David Ellison, major donors to the GOP, have acquired Paramount and The Free Press, and now they’re going after TikTok and CNN. Elon Musk bought Twitter and turned it to X. Remember that image at Trump’s inauguration of Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sunder Pichai, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Tim Cook, Miriam Adelson, Bernard Arnault, Mukesh Ambani, Sergey Brin, Rupert Murdoch, Brian Armstong, Vivek Ramaswamy, Howard Lutnick, Vince McMahon, Jared Isaacman, Steve Witkoff, and others? They weren’t there to tell Trump to change; they were there to make sure their companies did not suffer, and they did so by donating to his campaign to curry favor. Patriots don’t do that. They fight. They don’t bow down. Authors, both of fiction and nonfiction, need to document this for this generation, but also for the generations that come after us. We need more works like Clark Gifford’s Body and the Kremlin Ball. More Beloved. Minor Detail. The Lion Women of Tehran. More poetry and movies like One Battle After Another, which I saw this weekend and which is hard to distinguish from what Trump’s America is looking like today. That’s our job, in my opinion, not in place of other fiction but in addition to our current fiction. Without works of resistance accompanied by action, our time will be limited in terms of our freedom of expression, and the works we can complete with that freedom.

3. Preserving Memory and Truth

Authoritarian regimes often seek to erase inconvenient truths, rewriting history and silencing dissent. Novels serve as repositories of memory, preserving the experiences of those who suffer under said repression. By documenting these stories, artists protect the integrity of history and ensure that future generations understand the cost of authoritarianism. They say history is written by the victors, but that doesn’t have to be the case. The victors do not have to be the men and women who would oppress the “other” for the benefit of their own kind, in this case the billionaires, the bigots, the racists and the authoritarian regime-loving populists who have proliferated around the world.

Remember, in societies where free speech is curtailed, novels and fiction become acts of defiance, keeping alive the voices that these regimes that are popping up seek to extinguish. Even when censored or banned, these works can circulate clandestinely, sustaining hope and resistance and, if our goals are met, continuing to maintain the freedoms our ancestors fought and died for so that we wouldn’t have to.

4. Challenging Propaganda and Censorship

Authoritarian regimes rely on propaganda and censorship to maintain control, shaping public perception and suppressing dissent. While misinformation and disinformation have always existed, social media and other mediums have allowed bad actors to manipulate perception to achieve their nefarious goals. Trump lies. The bad actors in his administration lie. They work under the rule: if you lie long enough and often enough people will believe the lie(s). They prove this to us not occasionally but daily. Novels, fiction, nonfiction and other means of creating art to conquer the misinformation and disinformation can undermine the efforts of Trump and others by presenting alternative viewpoints, exposing contradictions, and revealing the hidden truths these people try to bury from the eyes of the societies they’re trying to control. Through allegory, symbolism, and subtext, facts and checks on the communication channels owned and manipulated by the powers that be, artists and reporters can circumvent censorship, communicating their message in ways that are subtle yet powerful, enlightening and educational.

The creative flexibility of the novel, however, allows artists to critique authoritarianism without directly naming the regime, using metaphor and fictional settings to explore universal themes of power, freedom, and resistance. This approach can make criticism more accessible and less risky, enabling artists to speak truth to power even in hostile environments. This doesn’t mean there may never be repercussions to the works, especially if they become well-known or popular. But this country and the world need those artists and chroniclers of what’s happening that are willing to put their necks out for the greater good. It’s a potentially dangerous endeavor, but it’s one that, in my opinion, is worth the risk.  

There is Zero Reason for ICE to Exist. The Abuse of Immigrants and American Citizens Must Stop. NOW.

Challenges and Risks

Writing novels that criticize authoritarian regimes, as mentioned above, is not without peril. Artists face censorship, harassment, imprisonment, and even violence and death. Their works may be banned, and their reputations smeared by state propaganda. Despite these risks, history shows that courageous artists can make a profound impact, inspiring others to resist and eventually contributing to the downfall of oppressive systems. We remember Federico García Lorca. And Markov. Politkovskaya. And Babel. And the Yiddish writers killed by Stalin in the 1930s and 1940s. Just this week, Trump has called for the military to use American cities as training grounds. He has sent the National Guard to Illinois (where I live), and to Portland, Oregon, to Los Angeles, and has plans to send them to other cities under the guise of helping those “crime-ridden” cities get crime under control. It’s a lie. He’s lying. And we need to write about it and communicate it however we can, for his actions must not be swept under the proverbial rug. Do you write novels? Write a smart one showing the ills perpetuated by Trump and his underlings. Protest this abomination. Show the hypocrisy of his administration’s actions. But write. Write.

To mitigate the dangers of Trump and his ilk, artists can collaborate with international organizations, publish anonymously, or use digital platforms to reach global audiences—audiences who may be experiencing the same things that we are here in America. Solidarity among artists, readers, and activists is essential to protect creative freedom and ensure that dissident voices are heard. Be a dissident voice. Do what you can, before it’s too late.

Conclusion

In a world where authoritarianism continues to threaten human rights and dignity, the role of the artist is more important than ever. By writing novels that criticize authoritarian regimes, artists can expose injustice, inspire resistance, and protect the memory of those who suffer under oppression. Their stories serve as beacons of hope, illuminating the path toward freedom and democracy. They create a platform form which activism can spring, and a landscape where our children, if these things continue, will benefit from maintaining.

The pen remains a mighty tool for challenging not only the tyrants who want to see us as their underlings, but from the tyranny they spread across our great nation. Artists must embrace their responsibility, using creativity and courage to confront authoritarianism and uphold the values of truth, justice, and liberty for all, not just those who would bow down to the Trumps of the world. Through the power of the novel and fiction in general, artists can help to shape a world where freedom triumphs over fear, and the human spirit endures long after the contributions we make have been published and solidified in the shared consciousness of our nation.

Cully Perlman is author of The Losses, a novel. He is a blogger, an editor, and, as best he can be, an activist against tyranny.

The Author, Cully Perlman, Believes it's Time to End the Authoritarian Regime of Donald J. Trump.

*The framework for this post was generated using Copilot. The majority of the text, however, was written by me.