Timothy Snyder

In a captivating discussion, Timothy Snyder, a Yale historian and expert on Ukraine, shares his insights on the ongoing war in Ukraine. He reveals the complexities of Russian propaganda and examines Putin's motives, questioning the role of the US and NATO in the conflict. The conversation delves into nuclear risk and the moral dilemmas of global politics, alongside the historical context that shapes current events. Through his expertise, Snyder uncovers the intricate layers of this geopolitical crisis and its implications.

Timothy Snyder, a renowned historian and Yale professor, explores the complexities of freedom. He distinguishes between 'freedom from' and 'freedom to,' critiquing figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump as 'heroes of negative freedom.' Snyder warns against this binary thinking, suggesting that true freedom involves collective well-being. The conversation also touches on the evolving views of Russia in U.S. politics, the paradox of technology as entrapment, and emphasizes empathy as a foundational aspect of personal and societal freedom.

Timothy Snyder, a historian specializing in Eastern European history and Ukraine, discusses the fragile state of democracy today. He argues that democracy requires active participation and cannot be taken for granted. Snyder examines how complacency and media bias threaten democratic values, while also highlighting the dangers of fossil fuel dependency that can lead to authoritarianism. He emphasizes the need to educate future generations about democracy as an ongoing struggle, linking it to broader issues like climate change.

Class 2, The Genesis of Nations. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Class 1 is an introduction to the course and an exploration of questions raised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

In Class 3, Timothy Snyder, recently back from a visit to Ukraine, explores the geography and ancient history of the region. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Timothy Snyder, a renowned historian and author of *On Tyranny*, discusses the alarming resurgence of authoritarianism in the context of Trump’s politics. He reflects on the lessons from history and emphasizes the danger of conforming to fascistic influences. By examining the interplay of money, media, and power, Snyder warns about the critical need for individual resistance and factuality in democracy. He also touches on the importance of solidarity for a truly free society and critiques Trump’s foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine.

Do you speak the language or does the language speak you? In Class 4 Professor Timothy Snyder maps out the landscape ‘Before Europe.’ Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Timothy Snyder, Marci Schor, and Volodymyr Yermolenko discuss resilience, creativity in wartime Ukraine, philosophical reflections on extremity, exploration of liminality, borders, truth in political philosophy, psychological aspect of beliefs in conflict, humanizing Ukrainians through art and culture, agency, Putinism, and the future of Russian society.

Jamil Zaki, a Stanford psychology professor, discusses the damaging effects of cynicism on individuals and societies, urging a shift toward 'hopeful skepticism.' He shares personal insights on how cynicism fosters division and conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, Timothy Snyder, a Yale historian, reflects on redefining freedom, especially in light of his experiences in Ukraine. He emphasizes that true freedom goes beyond mere absence of conflict, highlighting the importance of community and moral choices in fostering a deeper understanding of liberty.