The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America

The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America is a historical, political, social, and philosophical exploration of the ideological shifts and political manipulations shaping contemporary geopolitics. The book was published in 2018. Its author, Timothy Snyder, is a renowned historian and professor at Yale University with expertise in Eastern European history and the Holocaust. Snyder uses his lifelong research of totalitarian regimes and historical narratives to analyze the rise of authoritarianism in Russia, especially since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 until the book’s publication in 2018. In addition, he explores the implications of Russian politics for Europe and the United States, with a special focus on Ukraine and the 2014 Maidan Revolution. The book, which belongs to the genre of political science and contemporary history, considers themes such as the misuse of historical information, the politics of inevitability and eternity, and the erosion of democratic principles. The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America provides a critical examination of the strategies employed by Russia to undermine Western democracies and reshape international relations. Many reviewers, both inside and outside academic circles, consider the book a crucial resource for understanding the complex dynamics of modern authoritarianism and the ongoing threats to liberal democracy. Other works by Timothy Snyder include Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin and On Tyranny.

This guide uses the paperback 2018 Vintage edition.

Summary

In the Prologue, Snyder shares his personal experiences alongside key global events in the 2010s. He recounts the birth of his son in 2010 against the backdrop of the Smolensk plane crash that killed all people on board, including several Polish officials, among them the Polish president at the time. This event, which occurred during rising political tensions in the region, led Snyder to analyze the fragility of democracy, a theme that he explores throughout the book. Snyder reflects on his collaboration with historian Tony Judt on European political mass murders and their shared concerns about the weakening of democratic values in contemporary society.

Chapter 1, titled “Individualism of Totalitarianism,” discusses how the politics of inevitability shifts becomes the politics of eternity, fostering regimes that lean toward oligarchy and fascism. Snyder illustrates this by discussing the resurgence of Ivan Ilyin’s fascist ideology in Russia that supports authoritarianism and justifies the erosion of democratic institutions. Ilyin’s philosophy, which promotes a mythical past and the notion of a constant crisis, has significantly influenced Russian politics and its foreign policy toward the European Union (EU) and the US. Snyder uses Ilyin’s ideas to discuss the broader implications of historical amnesia and political mythology in undermining democratic structures and promoting authoritarian governance.

In Chapter 2, “Succession or Failure,” Snyder explores the impact of idealized leadership on statehood. He critiques the lack of democratic succession principles within the Soviet Union, arguing that reliance on individual charisma rather than robust institutions led to instability and eventual collapse. Snyder illustrates how post-Soviet Russia, under Vladimir Putin, adopted a managed democracy, where political outcomes are orchestrated behind the scenes, further exemplified by engineered crises and manipulated elections. This approach enabled Putin to solidify his power while depicting democratic opposition in negative, moralistic terms and dismissing external democratic influences as threats.

Chapter 3, “Integration or Empire,” discusses the transition of European empires to states and the role of the EU in promoting integration and state sovereignty as peaceful alternatives to imperialism. Snyder contrasts this with Russia’s Eurasian project, which he views as a re-adoption of fascist ideologies from the 1930s, aimed at asserting Russian dominance. He describes the evolution of Eurasian thought and the significant influence of thinkers such as Lev Gumilev and Alexander Dugin, who promote a Russian-centric integration that opposes Western values and legal norms. Snyder considers Putin’s foreign policy shifts post-2012, moving from initial cooperation with the West to a more authoritarian stance that rejects democratic reforms and legal governance. This chapter also details how Russia’s geopolitical strategy under Putin has supported far-right movements across Europe and engaged in disinformation campaigns to destabilize the EU and reshape European politics in line with Russian interests.

In Chapter 4, titled “Novelty or Eternity,” Snyder discusses how Vladimir Putin strategically used historical narratives to assert a sense of eternal unity between Russia and Ukraine, particularly emphasizing the shared heritage since the baptism of Volodymyr of Kyiv in 988. This narrative was crucial around 2013, when Ukraine was approaching an association agreement with the EU, which Russia strongly opposed. Snyder highlights the complex interplay of colonization and decolonization in Ukrainian history, illustrating its suffering under Soviet and Nazi occupations, which aimed to exploit its agricultural productivity. This historical framing supports Snyder’s argument that Ukraine’s identity is distinct and shaped by its struggle against oppressive regimes and its drive toward European integration.

Snyder also discusses how the Maidan protests of 2014, triggered by Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the EU agreement under Putin’s influence, marked a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s political and national identity formation. These protests, originally peaceful, escalated due to violent suppression, mirroring Russian repressive laws. The Ukrainians’ response, advocating for sovereignty and European integration, showcased a mature civic society that transcended linguistic divisions, countering Russian propaganda that sought to portray the movement as aligning with Western decadence.

Chapter 5, titled “Truth or Lies,” examines Russia’s manipulation of media and historical narratives to foster a state of managed ignorance among its citizens, ensuring a rejection of factual information. Snyder discusses Russia’s portrayal of itself as a perpetual victim of external forces, a narrative propagated through state media channels such as Russia Today. This strategy of disinformation became glaringly evident during the 2014 Ukrainian crisis, when Russia denied its military involvement while simultaneously framing its actions as defense against Western aggression. The annexation of Crimea and the military intervention in Donbass were part of a broader Russian strategy to destabilize Ukraine and assert its geopolitical narratives, often resorting to historical revisionism and misinformation. Snyder argues that these tactics reflect a broader Russian policy of hybrid warfare, which includes cyberattacks aimed at undermining Western infrastructures and electoral systems.

Chapter 6, titled “Equality or Oligarchy,” examines how Vladimir Putin’s regime exploited vulnerabilities in American society and politics to influence the 2016 US presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. Snyder discusses how Russian propaganda utilized cyberwar tactics to manipulate public opinion, portraying Trump favorably while disparaging Hillary Clinton. Snyder emphasizes the significant role played by social media platforms where Russian operatives deployed sophisticated campaigns to deepen societal divides and amplify political tensions. Snyder also discusses Trump’s financial dependencies on Russian money, arguing that these relationships made Trump a compromised figure, susceptible to Russian influence. He details how figures like political advisors Paul Manafort and Steve Bannon shaped Trump’s campaign narrative, aligning it with extremist and divisive ideologies.

The Epilogue prompts a critical reassessment of the narratives that drive societies toward authoritarianism. Snyder emphasizes that democracy demands active participation and the cultivation of virtues such as equality, truth, and individuality, which are often compromised under authoritarian regimes.