On Tyranny Book Summary
Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
Book by Timothy Snyder
Summary
In "On Tyranny," Timothy Snyder draws urgent lessons from the 20th century's bitter experience with tyranny to equip ordinary citizens today with the tools to recognize encroaching authoritarianism and fight back before it's too late.
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20 Lessons on Tyranny - Summarized
Here are the 20 lessons from Timothy Snyder's book "On Tyranny," summarized in one sentence each:
- Do not obey in advance: Don't voluntarily conform to a new authoritarian system before it fully takes hold.
- Defend institutions: Actively work to protect and support the institutions that sustain a free and open society.
- Beware the one-party state: Defend the multi-party system and the integrity of democratic elections.
- Take responsibility for the face of the world: Be conscious of the symbols and imagery you promote and display.
- Remember professional ethics: Adhere to ethical codes in professions like law, medicine, and business, even under pressure.
- Be wary of paramilitaries: Be vigilant when armed forces separate from the military become involved in politics.
- Be reflective if you must be armed: If you work in law enforcement or security, be conscious of how your actions uphold or subvert justice.
- Stand out: Resist the pressure to conform and be willing to take a stand for your principles.
- Be kind to our language: Resist using simplistic or propagandistic language and insist on precise and truthful communication.
- Believe in truth: Seek out and verify facts; don't passively accept falsehoods and misinformation.
- Investigate: Critically examine information and the world around you; don't just believe what you're told.
- Make eye contact and small talk: Connect with people face-to-face to break down social barriers and build understanding.
- Practice corporeal politics: Engage in real-world political action, not just online discourse.
- Establish a private life: Maintain a sphere of privacy and personal autonomy separate from state control.
- Contribute to good causes: Support organizations and initiatives that advance the values you believe in.
- Learn from peers in other countries: Connect with and learn from people facing similar challenges around the world.
- Listen for dangerous words: Be alert to rhetoric that demonizes certain groups or justifies violence and oppression.
- Be calm when the unthinkable arrives: When a crisis hits, resist the urge to panic or submit to authoritarian responses.
- Be a patriot: Serve your country by upholding its highest principles and demanding it live up to its potential.
- Be as courageous as you can: Stand up for your convictions even in the face of fear and intimidation.
Section: 1, Chapter: 1
History Instructs Us on How to Resist Modern Tyranny
The book opens by arguing that history can teach us valuable lessons on how to recognize and resist the rise of tyranny today. While the American system was designed to avoid tyranny, threats can still emerge, as the 20th century showed with fascism, Nazism and communism leading to the failure of many democracies. The founders knew that inequality brought instability and demagogues could exploit free speech to install themselves as tyrants. As we face challenges to democracy today, we must learn from Europe's history in the 20th century to understand how tyranny can take hold and how to respond.
Section: 1, Chapter: 1
The Milgram Experiment Shows How Readily People Follow New Authority
Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance: Don't voluntarily conform to a new authoritarian system before it fully takes hold.
The famous Milgram experiment at Yale in 1961 showed how quickly people will follow the commands of an authority figure, even if it means harming others. Subjects were told to administer shocks to unseen participants, and most continued to do so even when the person seemed to be in agony or dying, simply because the experimenter told them to continue. This reveals how people adapt to new authority, a key ingredient in the transition to tyranny.
Section: 1, Chapter: 1
Defend Institutions - They Require Constant Support
Lesson 2: Defend institutions: Actively work to protect and support the institutions that sustain a free and open society.
One must actively work to protect the institutions that are integral to a free and open society. This ranges from courts to media outlets to unions. The mistake is assuming institutions will defend themselves - in fact they require ongoing effort and vigilance from citizens to function properly. Tyrants seek to weaken institutions so they can consolidate power. The defense of institutions requires participation - whether that means subscribing to a newspaper to support the free press, joining a union, or getting involved with government at the local level. Don't take democratic institutions for granted.
Section: 1, Chapter: 2
Beware the One-Party State and Defend Democratic Elections
Lesson 3: Beware the One-Party State and Defend Democratic Elections
Many 20th century tyrannical regimes began with a single party consolidating power, making democracy impossible for opponents. They exploit a specific moment to make political life untenable for their opposition. The lesson is to defend the integrity of the democratic system:
- Support a multi-party system
- Fight for fair election rules and voting rights
- Consider running for office yourself
- Participate in local and state elections while you can Defending democracy is an ongoing responsibility that requires action.
Section: 1, Chapter: 3
Make Conscious Choices About the Symbols and Aesthetics You Support
Lesson 4: Take responsibility for the face of the world: Be conscious of the symbols and imagery you promote and display.
The symbols, slogans and images that pervade society shape reality by setting norms and establishing what is acceptable. In 1930s Germany, symbols like swastikas and racial caricatures normalized the Nazis' hateful ideology and agenda. People went along with these symbols, which greased the path to much greater horrors. The lesson is to consciously choose what to display and partake in - from lapel pins to chants to posters. Don't just follow the crowd. Ask what the symbols really mean and where they may lead. Be willing to take a stand by rejecting hateful and exclusionary imagery. What you say, do and promote shapes the world around you.
Section: 1, Chapter: 4
Ethics Must Guide Professions Like Law, Medicine, and Business
For tyranny to take hold, professionals must ignore or abandon their ethical codes and simply follow the orders of the regime. This was crucial in Nazi Germany, where lawyers provided cover for illegal orders, doctors participated in grotesque experiments, businessmen exploited slave labor, and civil servants enabled genocidal policies. If key professions had simply adhered to basic ethics around human rights and human dignity, the Nazi machine would have had a much harder time implementing its agenda. Professionals must consult their conscience and be guided by ethics even, and especially, when a regime claims the situation is an exception.
Section: 1, Chapter: 5
"Do Not Obey in Advance"
"Anticipatory obedience is a political tragedy. Perhaps rulers did not initially know that citizens were willing to compromise this value or that principle. Perhaps a new regime did not at first have the direct means of influencing citizens one way or another. After the German elections of 1932, which permitted Adolf Hitler to form a government, or the Czechoslovak elections of 1946, where communists were victorious, the next crucial step was anticipatory obedience. Because enough people in both cases voluntarily extended their services to the new leaders, Nazis and communists alike realized that they could move quickly toward a full regime change. The first heedless acts of conformity could not then be reversed."
Section: 1, Chapter: 1
The Presence of Paramilitaries Is a Warning Sign of Tyranny
Lesson 6: Be wary of paramilitaries: Be vigilant when armed forces separate from the military become involved in politics.
In a healthy democracy, the state should have a monopoly on the use of force, constrained by the rule of law. The rise of paramilitaries - armed forces operating outside the official military structure - is a key warning sign of tyranny. From Hitler's Brownshirts to Mussolini's Blackshirts, paramilitaries can be used to intimidate opponents, subvert legal authority, and consolidate power for a dictatorial regime. They often blur the lines between civilian politics and military force. If you see paramilitary activity or the celebration of paramilitary groups from the past, it's a red flag that democracy is in danger.
Section: 1, Chapter: 6
Be Reflective If You Must Be Armed
Lesson 7: Be reflective if you must be armed: If you work in law enforcement or security, be conscious of how your actions uphold or subvert justice.
If your professional role requires you to bear arms - whether as a soldier, police officer, or security guard - you have a special responsibility to be reflective and uphold democratic values. Snyder writes, "Know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no."
He cites the disturbing participation of supposed peacekeepers in atrocities throughout the 20th century. The antidote is to stay conscious, question commands, and refuse to use force in the service of injustice, even from a place of relative powerlessness. Maintain your moral compass.
Section: 1, Chapter: 7
Teresa Prekerowa's Courageous Example in Nazi-Occupied Poland
Lesson 8: Stand out: Resist the pressure to conform and be willing to take a stand for your principles.
As a young woman in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation, Teresa Prekerowa faced a harrowing situation - her family lost everything, her father was arrested, her uncle killed, and her city lay in ruins. While many focused solely on self-preservation, Teresa thought of others. She took great risks to smuggle food and medicine to Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, and later helped a Jewish family escape. Teresa quietly defied the Nazis by upholding human decency. Her individual actions may seem small, but they took tremendous courage. Even under the pressure of conformity and terror, Teresa stood out. We must aspire to such moral strength.
Section: 1, Chapter: 8
Orwell and Klemperer Demonstrate the Importance of Language in Resisting Tyranny
Lesson 9: Be kind to our language: Resist using simplistic or propagandistic language and insist on precise and truthful communication.
George Orwell and Victor Klemperer, both writing during the rise of totalitarianism, understood how language can be corrupted to serve tyrannical ends. Orwell exposed how propaganda relies on simple slogans, repeated ad nauseum, to replace critical thought. Klemperer, a philologist in Nazi Germany, documented how the Nazis used language to define groups as "other" and justify inhumane treatment.
They show how resisting tyranny means being conscious of language - rejecting cliches and propaganda, using words with precision and honesty, and defining people as individuals, not stereotypes. Defending truthful language is crucial to defending a humane and pluralistic society.
Section: 1, Chapter: 9
Post-Truth Is Pre-Fascism - Fight Lies with Facts
Lesson 10: Believe in truth: Seek out and verify facts; don't passively accept falsehoods and misinformation.
We now face a dangerous "post-truth" moment reminiscent of the rise of fascism. As Snyder writes, "To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so." Fascists relied on "magical thinking" to paint a false reality and destabilize truth itself. They show how truth dies through:
- Open hostility to verifiable reality
- Endless repetition of lies
- Open embrace of contradiction
- Misplaced faith in a leader as the sole source of truth
When we enter this territory, as Snyder sees happening today, we must urgently defend facts and seek to verify information. Truth is our first and most essential bulwark against tyrannical power.
Section: 1, Chapter: 10
Investigate and Seek the Truth - Don't Succumb to Propaganda
Lesson 11: Investigate: Critically examine information and the world around you; don't just believe what you're told.
In an age of misinformation and propaganda, it's crucial to actively investigate and verify the information you consume. Don't passively accept what you're told, especially from those in power. Seek out reliable sources, fact-check claims, and think critically about the media you encounter. Support real investigative journalism by subscribing to reputable publications. Be aware that some of what you see online is specifically designed to deceive you. Taking responsibility for discerning truth is hard work, but it's vital for maintaining a free society. As Snyder warns,
"Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on the internet is there to harm you."
Section: 1, Chapter: 11
Hannah Arendt on Truth, Tyranny and the Importance of an Informed Citizenry
"In 1971, contemplating the lies told in the United States about the Vietnam War, the political theorist Hannah Arendt took comfort in the inherent power of facts to overcome falsehoods in a free society: 'Under normal circumstances the liar is defeated by reality, for which there is no substitute; no matter how large the tissue of falsehood that an experienced liar has to offer, it will never be large enough, even if he enlists the help of computers, to cover the immensity of factuality.' The part about computers is no longer true. In the 2016 presidential election, the two-dimensional world of the internet was more important than the three-dimensional world of human contact."
Section: 1, Chapter: 11
Make Eye Contact and Talk to Your Neighbors
Lesson 12: Make eye contact and small talk: Connect with people face-to-face to break down social barriers and build understanding.
Tyranny thrives on social atomization - when people feel isolated and disconnected, they are easier to control. Counteract this by making a habit of small social interactions. Make eye contact, chat with strangers, get to know your neighbors. Build social trust and understanding in your community. This isn't just being polite; it's a civic imperative.
As Snyder notes, it helps you "stay in touch with your surroundings, break down social barriers, and understand whom you should and should not trust." Having a robust social fabric provides vital resilience and support in the face of oppression. Losing that fabric is dangerous; as Snyder writes, "When friends, colleagues, and acquaintances looked away or crossed the street to avoid contact, fear grew."
Section: 1, Chapter: 12
The Success of Poland's Solidarity Movement Shows the Power of "Corporeal Politics"
Lesson 13: Practice corporeal politics: Engage in real-world political action, not just online discourse.
The Solidarity movement in Poland in the 1980s demonstrates how engaging in real-world politics and forming unexpected coalitions can effectively resist tyranny. Solidarity brought together workers, professionals, the Catholic Church, and secular groups, bridging ideological divides to stand up for freedom.
This kind of "corporeal politics" - where people physically show up and engage with others face-to-face - is essential. As Snyder writes, "Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them."
Section: 1, Chapter: 13
Establish a Private Life and Safeguard Your Privacy
Lesson 14: Establish a private life: Maintain a sphere of privacy and personal autonomy separate from state control.
Totalitarianism seeks to obliterate the boundary between public and private life, so establishing a sphere of personal privacy is an act of resistance. This isn't about having something to hide; it's about maintaining your autonomy and individuality in the face of intrusive state power. Snyder advises some practical steps:
- Scrub your computer of malware frequently
- Remember email leaves a permanent record
- Use the Internet mindfully and consider spending less time online
- Have sensitive conversations in person
- Don't give authorities an excuse to attack you; resolve any outstanding warrants or fines
Preserving privacy can be as high-stakes as protecting activists from surveillance and as mundane as keeping your personal data secure. Either way, it's an essential guardrail against tyranny.
Section: 1, Chapter: 14
Contribute to Worthy Causes to Sustain Civil Society
Lesson 15: Contribute to good causes: Support organizations and initiatives that advance the values you believe in.
Supporting good causes, from charities to advocacy groups, is a powerful way to affirm your values and build a bulwark against tyranny. A vibrant civil society - a web of voluntary associations and NGOs that exist independent of the state - provides vital civic space for developing ideas, social trust, and grassroots power. Pick some key organizations that reflect your views and set up regular donations, however small. Volunteer your time and talents.
This keeps precious civic space alive. As Snyder notes, "When Americans think of freedom, we usually imagine a contest between a lone individual and a powerful government...But one element of freedom is the choice of associates, and one defense of freedom is the activity of groups to sustain their members."
Section: 1, Chapter: 15
Learn from the Hard-Won Wisdom of Other Countries
Lesson 16: Learn from peers in other countries: Connect with and learn from people facing similar challenges around the world.
Americans can be dangerously parochial, assuming that tyranny can't happen here. But we have much to learn from the experiences of other nations that have faced democratic crises. Snyder notes that during the 2016 election, "Ukrainian journalists who came to the American Midwest were surprised by the lack of knowledge about or interest in Ukraine" and observed many of the same propaganda tactics Russia had used against them being deployed here.
Building international connections provides vital perspective. Snyder advises maintaining friendships abroad, traveling (make sure to have a passport), and supporting global organizations. The fight to preserve freedom is a global struggle, and we can't prevail alone.
Section: 1, Chapter: 16
Eastern European Scholars Recognized the Danger of Trump
In the lead-up to the 2016 election, most American commentators assured the public that Trump would be stopped by one institution or another. But scholars of Eastern Europe sounded the alarm early based on patterns they recognized from their own countries' experiences with tyrants.
As Snyder notes, "Those who were born into postwar Europe or the Soviet bloc had an advantage. They could not entertain the idea that history was over. They had seen the boundary between civilization and barbarism crossed more than once...When voting booths were brought out for an exercise in pseudo-democracy, they had to know how to read the body language of power and the real meaning of slogans." Those who lived through democratic collapse in Eastern Europe have hard-won wisdom that Americans ignore at our peril.
Section: 1, Chapter: 16
Be Alert to Dangerous Expansions of Executive Power
Lesson 17: Listen for dangerous words: Be alert to rhetoric that demonizes certain groups or justifies violence and oppression.
Would-be tyrants often use the rhetoric of terrorism and extremism to justify dangerous power grabs. As Snyder writes, "The trick is to define terrorism and extremism as what those in power say they are, while leaving the details ambiguous and mutable." He points to Hitler's use of the Reichstag Fire to claim emergency powers and suspend civil liberties.
Similarly, Putin has exploited terrorism (sometimes likely abetted by his own regime) to consolidate his authoritarian rule in Russia. If a leader tries to seize broad new powers to fight vaguely defined threats, it's a serious red flag. Carefully evaluate any attempts to trade freedom for security.
Section: 1, Chapter: 17
"Be Calm When the Unthinkable Arrives"
Lesson 18: Be calm when the unthinkable arrives: When a crisis hits, resist the urge to panic or submit to authoritarian responses.
"Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it."
Section: 1, Chapter: 18
To Be a Patriot Is to Fight for Your Country's Highest Ideals
Lesson 19: Be a patriot: Serve your country by upholding its highest principles and demanding it live up to its potential.
In dark political times, "patriotism" can be co-opted to mean loyalty to a particular leader or party. True patriotism, however, means dedication to your country's most fundamental values.
A patriot must be concerned with the real world, which is the only place where his country can be loved and sustained." So a patriot holds America to its stated principles of democracy, equal rights, and the rule of law. And a patriot is willing to criticize America when it falls short of those principles. Snyder warns this is the opposite of nationalism, "which encourages us to be our worst, and then tells us that we are the best."
Section: 1, Chapter: 19
Freedom Demands Civic Courage - We Must Take Responsibility
Lesson 20: Be as courageous as you can: Stand up for your convictions even in the face of fear and intimidation.
We face a dangerous moment when the future of freedom is in doubt. It's easy to grow cynical or paralyzed. But as Snyder argues, the lesson of the 20th century is that individual citizens have more power than they realize.
Ultimately, tyranny prevails only when the people acquiesce to it. So we all share responsibility to muster our courage and fight for democracy. This takes many forms - participating in politics, defending dissent, standing up to oppression in our daily lives. As Snyder poignantly observes, "If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny." The stakes are high, but so is our duty. We must practice the "corporeal politics" of showing up in person and putting our bodies on the line when called to do so.
Section: 1, Chapter: 20
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