Watching From the Outside: Why Some Are Drawing Uncomfortable Parallels With America’s Direction

28 January 2026

Paul Francis

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From the outside looking in, the United States feels tense in a way that is hard to ignore. Recent news has heightened that sense even further. On 24 January 2026, federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during an operation in Minneapolis. Pretti was a lawful gun owner and had no significant criminal record, but video footage circulating online shows him recording officers with his phone and attempting to help a woman before being pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground and shot multiple times by agents. His death came amid a broader surge in immigration enforcement actions in the city that has sparked widespread protests and national debate about the use of force and accountability.

Police officers in black riot gear stand in formation on cobblestone street, holding batons, creating a tense and serious mood.

The killing of Pretti, who was widely remembered by colleagues and neighbours as compassionate and dedicated to his work, has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups, local officials and even former U.S. presidents. Public anger has spread beyond Minneapolis to rallies in other American cities and ongoing demands for transparency and reform.

For many people overseas, including in the UK, this adds a stark, human dimension to long-standing debates about immigration enforcement, executive power, and the use of force by federal agents.

Historical Echoes and Patterns of Enforcement

What unsettles observers most is not a superficial comparison to the worst chapters of history, but the processes that unfold when state power is exercised with increasing visibility and limited accountability. In the early 1930s in Germany, for example, enforcement and security agencies were expanded, rhetoric framed certain groups as threats to public order, and legal mechanisms were adapted gradually in the name of national security. Before the worst atrocities occurred, many citizens still believed institutions would hold firm.

The parallels some are drawing today are about how language, enforcement and public perception can shift over time, not about equating present-day events with the horrors of the Holocaust or claiming that history is bound to repeat itself. Democracies do not erode overnight. They do so when extraordinary measures become normalised and when fear is used as justification for expanding state authority.

Immigration Enforcement and Public Fear

The focus on agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol under the current administration has made enforcement part of everyday conversation in a way that was once reserved for national security crises. Actions such as raids, aggressive detentions, and high-profile shootings like the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good earlier this month have drawn comparisons to historical moments when internal policing exerted extraordinary authority over civilians.

From the outside, this visibility of enforcement is unsettling. In situations where armed federal agents are deployed in large numbers to American cities, and when deaths occur in contested circumstances, the tendency is for commentators and historians to look back at how other societies responded to similar shifts in state behaviour and to ask whether existing checks and balances are sufficient.

Rhetoric and the Framing of Threats

Language plays a powerful role in shaping public opinion and policy. In the early 20th century Europe, political leaders increasingly used rhetoric that framed certain groups as dangerous or incompatible with national identity. This language made previously unthinkable policies acceptable to a broad public.

In the U.S. context, political rhetoric around immigration has in some quarters suggested that foreign nationals or dissenters pose existential threats. Critics argue that such language sets the tone for enforcement actions that might otherwise be widely criticised.

The Legal System and Incremental Change

One of the most important lessons from modern history is that authoritarian systems often emerge through the reinterpretation or expansion of existing laws, rather than through the overt suspension of democratic systems. Courts, legislatures, and enforcement agencies remain in place in the United States, but when emergency powers or discretionary enforcement are normalised, the public’s trust in institutions can be eroded.

These concerns are not hypothetical. Critics have pointed out that the legal frameworks governing immigration enforcement give federal agencies enormous discretion. When enforcement is paired with aggressive tactics in civilian urban environments, it raises questions about oversight, accountability and the protection of civil liberties.

Why Observers Abroad Are Paying Attention

The United States has long been seen as a beacon of democratic values, a country where civil liberties and the rule of law are central to national identity. From the UK and Europe, watching developments in Minneapolis and across the U.S. feels significant precisely because it tests that assumption.

Modern communication accelerates polarisation and magnifies every incident. Historical memory informs how we interpret patterns. Europe’s twentieth-century experience serves as a backdrop that makes observers sensitive to early indicators of democratic erosion, such as expanded enforcement powers, heightened rhetoric about internal threats, and the normalisation of force against civilians.

It is not that the United States today mirrors Germany of the 1930s in outcome or intent. The difference lies in context, institutions and culture. What resonates is not the specific ideology, but the processes by which states can extend authority, restrict dissent, and normalise exceptional measures in the name of order.

A Cautionary Perspective

What worries many observers is not that a totalitarian system is inevitable. Democracies are resilient and multifaceted. The U.S. still has strong independent courts, vibrant civil society and free media. But history teaches that complacency is dangerous. Democracies do not disappear because people want tyranny. They erode when early warning signs are dismissed as exaggeration.

From Minneapolis to broader immigration enforcement debates, what is happening in the United States prompts reflection on how democratic societies balance security, liberty and accountability. From the outside, that balance feels more fragile than many expected.

And in a world where U.S. domestic policy often influences global norms, those questions matter far beyond America’s borders.

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Remember, Remember the 5th of November: The Legacy of Guy Fawkes

Paul Francis
Nov 5, 2024
3 min read

As November 5th draws near, Britain prepares for Bonfire Night – an evening dedicated to one of the most infamous figures in British history: Guy Fawkes. Each year, cities and towns across the UK light up the night with bonfires and fireworks, celebrating a strange, centuries-old ritual that is at once a mark of rebellion, caution, and celebration.

Who Was Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes was born in York in 1570, growing up in a deeply religious era marked by intense tensions between Catholics and Protestants. As a young adult, Fawkes became a committed Catholic and eventually traveled to Spain, fighting with the Spanish army to aid Catholic causes against Protestant forces in Europe. But when he returned to England in 1604, his loyalties led him into darker pursuits. Alongside a group of Catholic rebels, he devised a plan that, if successful, would have altered British history forever.

The Gunpowder Plot: A Conspiracy for the Ages

Fawkes’s story is tied to one of the boldest conspiracies in British history: the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Led by Robert Catesby, this plan aimed to assassinate King James I and members of Parliament by placing explosives beneath the House of Lords. The goal? To eliminate the Protestant monarchy and replace it with Catholic rule. Fawkes’s military experience and commitment to the cause made him a natural choice to guard and ultimately ignite the gunpowder.

The plot, however, was foiled on the eve of November 5. An anonymous letter tipped off the authorities, who conducted a search and found Fawkes guarding thirty-six barrels of gunpowder in the cellars beneath Parliament. Fawkes, armed with matches and a pocketful of grim resolve, was arrested and later interrogated. Despite his defiance, he ultimately confessed to his role in the plot and, along with his fellow conspirators, was sentenced to death for high treason.

Why We Celebrate November 5th

In the aftermath, Parliament declared November 5th a national day of thanksgiving. Bonfires were lit across the country to celebrate the survival of King James I and the failure of the Gunpowder Plot. This annual event, now known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night, was observed with increasing vigor over the centuries, sometimes even as a symbol of anti-establishment sentiment.

Today, Bonfire Night is marked by fireworks, sparklers, and the burning of effigies – often called “Guys” – in honour (or ridicule) of Guy Fawkes. These effigies have come to represent more than just Fawkes himself, symbolizing defiance against oppression and the spirit of protest. The rhyme associated with the night – “Remember, remember, the Fifth of November” – reminds us of the power of ideas, even those that run counter to the norm.

Guy Fawkes: Symbol of Rebellion or a Cautionary Tale?

Guy Fawkes has become more than just a historical figure; he’s a cultural icon. His legacy, fueled by modern adaptations like the graphic novel and film V for Vendetta, has led some to see him as a symbol of defiance against unjust authority. The famous “Guy Fawkes mask” has been adopted by activist groups worldwide, most notably by the hacktivist group Anonymous, as an emblem of resistance.

But Guy Fawkes Night also serves as a cautionary tale – a reminder of the consequences of extreme actions taken in the name of belief. While he is celebrated for his daring, it’s also worth reflecting on the tumultuous religious and political landscape that fuelled his motives.

A Unique Tradition in the Modern Age

Bonfire Night is a British tradition that has withstood the test of time, evolving from a sombre observance of national survival to a night of community celebration and family fun. This November 5th, as we gather around bonfires, watch firework displays, and perhaps even indulge in a hot drink on a chilly night, we honour a centuries-old story. Whether you view Guy Fawkes as a hero, a villain, or something in between, his legacy continues to burn brightly – a spark that refuses to fade in British memory.

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November – and all that it stands for in the UK’s rich tapestry of history.