It's All One History

Today we hear from Tim Snyder, the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. Tim has written numerous books, including two that appeared on the New York Times best-seller list simultaneously, On Tyranny and The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America. Both volumes examine the rise of authoritarianism in the United States. As an historian specializing in the history of Central and Eastern Europe and the Holocaust, he draws parallels to our modern political climate and advises on how to defend our republic and individual freedoms. His advice: "Don't obey in advance," reminds each of us of our place in history, the responsibility we bear, and that everything we do has some kind of moral context, including looking away. If we become complacent, we then become vulnerable to the things we have chosen to forget.

Be a part of Our Dream Deferred: use the hashtag #OurDreamDeferred or write to us at [e-mail].

This episode was produced by APHSA. Editing and sound design by Brandon Mitchell.

Links:

- On Tyranny, a book by Tim Snyder

- The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, a book by Tim Snyder

- The War on History Is a War on Democracy, Tim Snyder New York Times article

Tim Snyder lays it out nicely.

Really brought home the adage "those who do not know the past are doomed to repeat it." Appreciated the parallels discussed around past events and present day related to national leaders like Hitler, historical conspiracy theories, freedom of the press and access to factual information.