104. Timothy Snyder: How will the US election result impact Ukraine?

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Oct 28, 2024

Timothy Snyder, an esteemed historian known for his expertise on Eastern European history, joins the conversation. He delves into how European history can illuminate current global conflicts and the impact of the upcoming US election on Ukraine. Discussing the moral stakes of the Russia-Ukraine war, he highlights the importance of NATO and EU influences. Snyder warns of the dire implications of political turmoil in the US for democracy, foreign policy, and the foundational values that uphold global governance.

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ANECDOTE

Snyder's Upbringing

Timothy Snyder was raised in a left-wing household in Ohio.
His family has a history of religious dissent and radical/progressive movements.

INSIGHT

Post-Soviet Optimism

Snyder's time at Oxford during the fall of the Soviet Union shaped his worldview.
He observed a naive belief that economic solutions would automatically lead to positive political outcomes.

INSIGHT

WWII and the Holocaust

World War II was primarily about Eastern Europe, and the Holocaust largely occurred there.
Common understandings of these events often lack this crucial Eastern European context.

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Bloodlands

Europe Between Hitler and Stalin

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On Freedom

Timothy Snyder

In 'On Freedom', Timothy Snyder argues that the concept of freedom has been misunderstood in modern America. He distinguishes between negative freedom (freedom from state power) and positive freedom (the freedom to thrive and take risks for chosen futures through collective effort). Snyder draws on the work of philosophers, political dissidents, and his own experiences to identify the habits of mind and practices necessary for designing a government that allows future generations to flourish. He emphasizes the importance of traditions, institutions, and a politics of abundance, generosity, and grace. The book also critiques libertarianism, exposes injustices in the penal system, and advocates for a culture of solidarity and strong government focused on human flourishing[2][3][5].

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This book by Christopher R. Browning examines the actions of Reserve Police Battalion 101, a unit of the German Order Police, during World War II. The battalion was responsible for mass shootings and round-ups of Jewish people for deportation to Nazi death camps in Poland in 1942. Browning argues that the men of this unit were not fanatical Nazis but ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities due to group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms. The book is based on postwar interrogations of former members of the battalion and provides a detailed and chilling glimpse into how ordinary men were transformed into active participants in the Holocaust.

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In 'Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning', Timothy Snyder presents a new explanation of the Holocaust, focusing on the political, social, and intellectual circumstances that led to the genocide. Snyder argues that statelessness was a crucial factor, as the destruction of states and the creation of zones without legal or political protection made Jews particularly vulnerable. He also explores Hitler's worldview, which saw the world as a space where races compete for resources, and Jews as obstacles to this natural order. The book draws parallels between the early 20th century and the early 21st century, warning that the conditions that led to the Holocaust are still present today, with growing preoccupations with food, water, and ideological challenges to global order[2][3][5].

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In 'The Deluge', Adam Tooze provides a panoramic view of the struggle for global mastery from the battles of the Western Front in 1916 to the Great Depression of the 1930s. The book explores how the Great War reshaped the global order, leading to the collapse of empires, the emergence of new nations, and the rise of the United States as a dominant global force. Tooze argues that the war marked the beginning of an American-centered world order, which would be challenged by leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and those of Imperial Japan in the subsequent decades. The book also delves into the economic and political implications of this new order, including the role of Woodrow Wilson's 'peace without victory' and the global economic instability that followed[2][4][5].