It's Time To Build A Civil Society In Exile
In the wake of Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s election victory in the United States, the foundations of a functioning government and an empowered civil society—one that holds power to account—are under imminent threat, both in the U.S. and globally.
Throughout history, when authoritarians, dictators, and fascists seized power, nations maintained governments in exile to preserve knowledge, infrastructure, and the capacity to lead once the strongman’s reign inevitably ended.
This time, it falls to civil society to ensure institutions will be rebuilt, government departments will function again, and democracy will be restored—so we can pick up the pieces once more.
Resistance Hub will establish a connected ‘civil society in exile’, safeguarding knowledge, resources, and skills. We resist now while preparing for the future—because history tells us these regimes always fall in the end.
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It is essential to ask yourself the
question:
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If our democratic institutions don't hold,
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What's your Plan B?
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Why Now?
When they tell you who they are, believe them.
Donald Trump is back in power, and this time, he isn’t hiding his plans for retribution. The dismantling of democratic safeguards is already underway, from the courts to Congress to the free press - with self-styled strongmen around the world either already on this path or on the precipice of following.
The Rule of Law No Longer Applies
The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States granted the President legal immunity for all official acts—effectively placing him above the law. He's even called himself a king. What presidential action isn’t an official act? This decision shattered a fundamental check on power, undermining the legal system in a way that could make it incapable of protecting the will of hte people.
Political Retaliation Has Begun
Journalists, government employees and civil society groups are already facing the consequences. Departments have been shuttered, media outlets are submitting to the regime to maintain access and legislation like H.R. 9495 - the anti-NGO bill - aims to strip targeted nonprofit organizations of their tax-exempt status, posing an existential threat to civil society.
Big Business and Big Tech Are All In
Unlike in 2016, powerful CEOs and corporations are actively backing Trump, fearful of executive retribution and prioritizing their market positions over protecting democracy. Elon Musk’s X deliberately fuelled the disinformation that helped Trump win, clearly for personal gain. Mark Zuckerberg’s changes to Meta’s platforms will have an exponentially greater impact, undermining the very existence of truth as we know it.
The warning signs are flashing. This isn’t speculation—it’s already happening. Resistance Hub exists because we know where this leads.
The Plan
Make no mistake—this is nothing short of a coup.
History shows that authoritarian regimes always collapse, undone by their own corruption, competing self-interests, and failure to address real problems. Hitler’s “Thousand-Year Reich” crumbled in just over a decade.
We don't know exactly when this movement's downfall will come, but we must be ready to pick up the pieces when it does.
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In the meantime, it's essential for individuals and organisations to ask themselves the question: "If our democratic institutions don't hold, What's our Plan B?" Here's the plan.
Connect
Bring together activists, organizations, and civil society leaders under threat to collaborate, strategize, and strengthen resistance efforts against authoritarian threats.
Protect
Provide - within the community - infrastructure, resources and if it comes to it, refuge in safe countries for individuals and groups under political, legal, or digital threats, ensuring their critical work continues.
Preserve
Help organisations prepare a comprehensive 'Plan B' to safeguard institutional knowledge and data as well as advocacy expertise, ensuring that civil society can rebuild nation states and thrive when authoritarian regimes inevitably collapse.
Plan
Prepare long-term strategies for rebuilding democratic governance and institutions, develop future leaders, and reimagine structures to prevent future authoritarians from taking hold and dismantling democracy again.
Resist
Actively counter disinformation, legal suppression, and corporate complicity now. Push back against rising authoritarian overreach through advocacy and direct action.