​Published in 1935, Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here" is one of the most unsettling political novels of the 20th century. Written against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe, the novel dismantles the dangerous illusion—deeply ingrained in American society—that authoritarianism is a phenomenon exclusive to other parts of the world. Lewis poses an uncomfortable question: what if American democracy were not as invulnerable as it seems?

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Let's look at the argument and historical context:

The novel chronicles the rise to power of Berzelius “Buzz” Windrip, a populist politician who wins the US presidency with a nationalist, simplistic, and openly demagogic discourse. Windrip promises order, economic prosperity, and a return to the nation's “authentic values,” appealing to the fear, social resentment, and frustration of the middle classes battered by the economic crisis. The parallels with what is happening today are striking. The nationalist rhetoric of white supremacy and religious fanaticism has not been disguised. On the contrary, members of the cabinet have adopted a discourse copied verbatim from the agendas of Hitler's National Socialism.

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Returning to the novel, once in power, Windrip rapidly transforms the democratic system into an authoritarian regime: Congress is neutralized, the press is controlled, paramilitary forces (the Minutemen) and ICE are established, and political opponents, intellectuals, and minorities are persecuted. All of this occurs gradually, under a veneer of legality, which reinforces the disturbing nature of the story.

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The protagonist embodies resistance through skepticism. The central character is Doremus Jessup, a liberal journalist and defender of democratic institutions. Unlike traditional heroes, Jessup is neither a revolutionary nor a martyr by choice, but an ordinary citizen who initially underestimates the danger of the new regime, trusting in the strength of the constitutional system.

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His evolution—from skepticism to active resistance—embodies the moral awakening of a society that has reacted too late. Through Jessup, the character, Lewis shows how authoritarianism thrives not only through the violence of power, but also through the passivity, complacency, and incredulity of the citizens.

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The mechanism of authoritarianism is perfectly described and coincides absolutely with what is happening in Democratic cities like Minneapolis, and others, not only in Minnesota but throughout the country.

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One of the novel's greatest achievements is its analysis of how a dictatorship is built without the need for an immediate military coup, much like Elon Musk's millions used to win the election. Lewis describes a process based on the manipulation of political language, which in reality amounts to the criminalization of immigrants in general, extending this criminalization to Democrats and all Latinos and immigrants from other African, Asian, and other nations. 

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The delegitimization of the press and experts. The repeated insults directed at professional journalists and all forms of blackmail, including lawsuits against the independent liberal press, are another factor perfectly described in the novel. 

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The use of fear as a tool for social cohesion. Cold-blooded murders of American citizens who denounce human rights violations and the horrific business of immigration detention centers, which are simply cages where hundreds of detainees are tortured and left to die because they cannot endure such terrible conditions.

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We are witnessing the transformation of nationalism into a quasi-religious faith with ignorant and mentally disturbed fanatics who today control masses of followers in the same condition through social media.

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The gradual normalization of repression is another characteristic of the novel that resonates with our present. For a year now, we have endured vulgarity and harassment; the indiscriminate beating of women and children of all ages without any possibility of protest. 

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We have witnessed disrespect and violence against people over 55, many of whom have lived for decades in the United States working and contributing to the economy with their own businesses, paying taxes and fully complying with the laws; however, a large part of society, with various arguments, is justifying and ignoring what is happening. 

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Many are sick from fear and must hide, suffering severe episodes of stress caused by their own experiences, by news and videos where they break windows of cars that are left abandoned after dragging the drivers out by beating them while attacking them with poisonous gases that affect children, babies and the elderly.

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The title of the novel functions as a tragic irony: the conviction that "that can't happen here" is precisely what allows it to happen.

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Lewis's style and narrative strategy, known for his social satire, adopt a more direct and didactic tone in this novel. The style prioritizes clarity over aesthetic ambiguity, seeking to warn rather than seduce. This choice has been the subject of criticism, but it is also part of the book's political force. It Can't Happen Here does not aspire to literary neutrality, but rather to civic engagement.

The novel's reception and relevance at the time of its publication were significant. It was a commercial success and generated intense debate. Many readers considered it exaggerated or alarmist, while others read it as a necessary warning. Over time, its relevance has not diminished. On the contrary, the work has been reevaluated each time authoritarian populist rhetoric resurfaces in democratic contexts.

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More than a prophecy, It Can't Happen Here is a narrative manual on the fragility of democracy, a work that insists that no political system is safe from authoritarian drift if citizens relinquish critical vigilance.

In conclusion, Sinclair Lewis's novel remains essential reading for understanding the cultural and psychological mechanisms of modern authoritarianism. Its greatest lesson lies not in the portrayal of the dictator, but in that of the society that enables him. By challenging democratic complacency, "It Can't Happen Here" becomes a literary cautionary tale that transcends its time and place.