Policing in an Authoritarian Age

 RCMP: A Century of Control and Controversy — Part 9: Policing in an Authoritarian Age

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses militarized policing, surveillance, and systemic abuse of power.

Across North America, we’ve watched how militarized police and surveillance tactics can transform democracies into spaces of fear. In the U.S., this shift is visible in aggressive SWAT deployments, constant monitoring of activists, and escalating police presence in minority neighborhoods. Canada is not immune.

The RCMP, with its long history of control and systemic bias, faces pressures to adapt to modern threats, including organized crime, terrorism, and civil unrest. Yet many tactics mirror authoritarian practices: surveillance, militarized equipment, tactical units, and expanded powers. Citizens are caught between the expectation of safety and the reality of overreach.

Public fear can become a tool of control. Communities who feel unsafe may demand stricter enforcement, inadvertently reinforcing systems that prioritize policing over prevention, rehabilitation, or social support. Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, and low-income citizens disproportionately experience this dynamic, echoing centuries of neglect and systemic injustice.

The RCMP’s pageantry, social media, and ceremonial presence — the same tools used historically to craft a heroic image — now exist alongside real-life militarized policing. The contrast is stark: a symbol of civility paired with methods that intimidate and surveil.

History shows that fear and control, when unchecked, erode democracy and trust. Canada’s challenge is to maintain public safety without repeating the mistakes of its past — systemic oppression, marginalization, and impunity.

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Reflection Questions

1. How does militarization of police affect public trust and safety?
2. In what ways can fear be used as a tool to control communities?
3. How can Canada ensure policing is effective without adopting authoritarian practices?

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Mini Quiz

1. What are examples of militarized policing?
   • A) Tactical units, armored vehicles, and surveillance ✅
   • B) Community gardens
   • C) School programs
2. Who is most affected by overreach in modern policing?
   • A) Indigenous, racialized, and low-income communities ✅
   • B) Politicians only
   • C) Tourists
3. How can fear influence public attitudes toward law enforcement?
   • A) It can make people demand stricter policing, reinforcing control ✅
   • B) It decreases the need for policing
   • C) It has no effect