Future Discontinuous What is the meaning of freedom, Timothy Snyder?
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Nov 5, 2025 
Historian Timothy Snyder, a notable figure in European history and author of acclaimed works like On Tyranny, discusses the deeper meaning of freedom. He insists true freedom requires moral and political structures to thrive, rather than being just a lack of interference. Snyder critiques the negative freedom perspective of figures like Peter Thiel and highlights the importance of the humanities in countering historical amnesia. He also explores the implications of Western policies in post-Soviet transitions and emphasizes the need for equal opportunities over idolizing billionaires.
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First Visit To A Collapsing Soviet Moscow
- Timothy Snyder recounts his first visit to Moscow in November 1990 and how the city's scale and shortages struck him.
- He remembers predicting the Soviet Union's collapse and discussing it openly with surprised Russian hosts.
Freedom Requires Positive Institutions
- Snyder argues economic 'shock therapy' clashed with concentrated Soviet assets, enabling oligarchic capture.
- He stresses freedom is a positive project requiring new moral and institutional presences, not mere destruction.
Create Structures That Make Freedom Possible
- Build political structures that create conditions for childhood development like education and parental leave.
- Design institutions to enable people's capacities so they can make free decisions later in life.
